Jalandhar: A Jalandhar court on Friday sent Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi’s nephew Bhupinder Singh, alias Honey, to Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody till February 8.
Honey was arrested late on Thursday night after several hours of questioning by ED officers in a money-laundering case linked to alleged illegal sand mining.
An unfazed Channi, who seems to be emerging as the frontrunner for Congress party’s choice of chief ministerial candidate, was unfazed by the development.
“The law is doing its work,” Channi said, adding that he had no objections.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi, however, said that this was another instance of agencies being “misused” to put pressure on Opposition leaders.
“This should not be allowed during elections,” ANI quoted Priyanka as saying.
ED officials had last month raided the premises of Providers Overseas Consultants private limited company, of which Honey is a director. Rs 10 crore was recovered, of which Rs 8 crore was found from the premises linked to Honey.
The investigation is based on a 2018 FIR regarding illegal sand mining, registered at Rahon police station in Nawanshahr district.
Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia accused the Punjab CM of only caring about ‘Channi, Honey and money.’
“Initially, money was seized, then Honey was arrested, and now is the turn of Channi,” he said.
