New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday arrested Surender Singh, also known as Chiku, from Haryana as part of a probe into money laundering against Lawrence Bishnoi gang and its associates, news agency PTI reported.
Following his arrest, Chiku was presented before a special court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in Panchkula, where he was remanded to five days of ED custody.
In a series of raids conducted on December 5 last year, the central probe agency searched a total of 13 locations linked to Chiku, identified as a gang member with close ties to Bishnoi and Khalistani extremist organisations, in Haryana and Rajasthan, PTI reported citing its ED sources.
The ED said that Surender alias Chiku maintained direct connections with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and Khalistani extremist outfits, utilising the “proceeds of crime” acquired from mining, liquor, and toll businesses through his associates.
It was alleged by the agency that Chiku funnelled his unlawfully acquired funds through two companies and their directors, who were closely associated with him. The individuals were identified as Satish Kumar and Vikash Kumar, serving as directors of MDR Enterprises Private Limited, a company engaged in mining and quarrying operations since October 2020, PTI reported.
Additionally, the duo served as directors of Nimawat Granites Private Limited, involved in stone, sand, and clay quarrying activities, from August 21, 2019, to November 15, 2021. This entity was established on July 5, 2012, the ED said.
According to ED, Chiku utilised these companies to launder the “proceeds of crime”. The money laundering case was initiated based on an FIR filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), along with four complaints lodged by the Haryana Police against Chiku, including charges of kidnapping, murder, and extortion.
During the raids conducted in December, the agency seized various electronic devices, financial documents, cash ledgers, property documents, and Rs 5 lakh in cash. Approximately 60 bank accounts linked to the gang were also uncovered during the operation.
The gang reportedly engaged in various agreements for the sale of properties without proper registration, with documents pertaining to approximately 13 properties being identified and frozen under the PMLA, the agency had stated at the time of the raids, PTI reported.