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Punjab CM Channi's nephew sent to 14-day judicial custody in illegal sand mining case
Bhupinder Singh alias Honey was arrested by the ED in Jalandhar on February 3 as part of its money laundering investigation into the alleged sand mining operations in the poll-bound state.
Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi's nephew, Bhupinder Singh alias Honey, was on Friday sent to 14-day judicial custody in an illegal sand mining case.
Honey was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Jalandhar on February 3 as part of its money laundering investigation into the alleged sand mining operations in the poll-bound state.
Honey is the son of Channi's sister-in-law and has been in the ED's custody since then.
Also read | ‘I have no objections...’: On nephew's arrest, Punjab CM Channi says law should do its work
Recently, the ED said Honey had admitted that the cash seized from his possession was earned from illegal sand mining as well as transfers and postings.
The federal agency had conducted raids against Honey and others on January 18 and seized about ₹7.9 crore cash from his premises and another about ₹2 crore cash from a linked person identified as Sandeep Kumar.
The ruling Congress has blamed the BJP-led central government of misusing federal agencies ahead of the Assembly election in the border state.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi recently named Channi as the party's chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming election.
Punjab is set to vote for its new government on February, the results of which will be declared on March 10 along with that of four other states – Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur.
(With agency inputs)
