- By Abhirupa Kundu
- Tue, 05 Dec 2023 11:43 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday carried out raids at over 12 locations in Haryana and Rajasthan in connection to Khalistani-gangster nexus carrying out searches at the premises linked to alleged to alleged suspects. The agency officials were also carrying out these raids as a part of money laundering investigation against the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.
The searches began on Tuesday early morning and are currently underway at several locations. The source, however, did not reveal the names of the suspects whose premises are being searched.
The ED officials remained tight-lipped on the development.
Earlier, the NIA had also taken action against the Khalistani and gangster nexus and carried out searches at several locations in multiple states.
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The ED's action stems from FIRs and charge sheets filed against Bishnoi and his deputy Satwinderjit Singh alias Goldy Brar by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Haryana Police and some other state police.
Bishnoi who is currently lodged in jail, is one of the accused in the murder case of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala.
The Enforcement Directorate is probing the charges that Bishnoi and his gang members were allegedly sending funds generated in India through extortion and smuggling of drugs and arms to Canada and other countries that was being used by pro-Khalistan supporters.
A resident of Fazilka in Punjab, Bishnoi has been in jail since 2014 after he was arrested during an encounter with the Rajasthan Police. He was shifted to Delhi's Tihar jail in 2021. He was later arrested by the Punjab Police on June 14, 2022, and shifted to the state in connection with the sensational murder of singer Sidhu Moosewala on May 29.
"Investigations have revealed that a terrorist, gangster and drug smugglers syndicate led by Bishnoi was involved in many targeted killings and extortion from businessmen and professionals, including doctors, and this had created a widespread scare and terror among the public at large," the NIA had said, reported news agency PTI.