ED arrests two in illegal mining case

According to a release, the accused, identified as Gian Chand and Sanjay Dhiman, were arrested on 18.11.2024 in an illegal mining case pertaining to Beas River, Himachal Pradesh and Yamuna River, Saharanpur (UP). They were produced before the Hon'ble Special Court (PMLA), Ghaziabad on Monday.

ED had received formal complaints and intelligence inputs alleging illegal sand and mineral mining operations on the river bed of the Beas River by several mining mafias including Gian Chand and Proceeds of Crime (POC) to the tune of hundreds of Crore have been generated through these illegal mining operations, the ED said in a release.

ED initiated an investigation based on six FIRs registered by different police stations in the districts of Kangra and Una in Himachal Pradesh relating to illegal mining. As per the FIRs, it has been alleged that illegal mining activities are taking place on government land and tippers, poclain, JCBs, and tractors are actively engaged in illegal mining in the Una and Kangra districts of Himachal Pradesh. These vehicles were involved in illegally extracting minerals and consequently unlawfully transporting these minerals to stone crushers by overloaded vehicles, it added.

Another FIR dated 01.11.2024 has also been registered by Behat Police Station, Saharanpur, against Gian Chand and others under sections of IPC, 1860, Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984, and Mines and Minerals (Regulation and Development) Act, 1957 (as amended). In order to conduct the comprehensive investigation, another FIR of UP Police has also been taken into the ambit of investigation in this case, the ED said.

During the course of the investigation, 12 searches have been conducted on the premises of several mining mafias, including Gian Chand and his associates in Himachal Pradesh and Saharanpur, and the statements of several persons have been recorded. On scrutiny of incriminating material seized, it is found that Gian Chand and his associates have been involved in illegal mining operations ranging from the Beas River to the Yamuna River. POC generated from illegal mining has been used in purchasing immovable properties and mining machinery like trucks, tippers, JCBs, crushers, etc., it added. (ANI)