Surender Panwar, a Congress MLA representing Sonipat in Haryana, was apprehended by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with an alleged illegal mining scheme. The arrest took place at his office in Ambala. Panwar, along with his associates, including Dilbag Singh (former MLA), faces accusations of orchestrating large-scale illegal mining activities involving sand, boulders, and gravels in Yamuna Nagar and neighboring districts of Haryana.
The Enforcement Directorate assumed control of the investigation into Panwar's involvement following multiple FIRs filed against him by the Haryana Police last year. Earlier this year, the agency conducted extensive raids at 20 different locations spanning Faridabad, Sonipat, Yamunanagar, Karnal, Chandigarh, and Mohali. These operations uncovered significant evidence suggesting the illicit excavation and sale of minerals by various operators of screening plants and stone crushers in Yamunanagar.
The modus operandi allegedly employed by those involved included strategies to evade detection, such as the non-issuance of proper e-Rawana bills or the production of counterfeit physical copies. During these searches, the Enforcement Directorate seized substantial assets including Rs 5.29 crore in cash, gold valued at Rs 1.89 crore, two vehicles, electronic devices, and a plethora of investment-related documents both domestic and foreign. Furthermore, illegal firearms, ammunition, and an excess of alcoholic beverages were also found on the premises, further complicating the legal landscape surrounding this case.
