Vigilance action against Majithia: SAD, Cong, BJP turn on AAP
The Vigilance Bureau on Wednesday arrested Akali leader Majithia for allegedly laundering over Rs 540 crore of "drug money".
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Indian Express
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- Indian Express
Robbers barge into businessman's house in Vasant Kunj, loot Rs 30 lakh: Police
On Monday night, four men allegedly barged into businessman Karan Chopra's Vasant Kunj house after he opened the door anticipating a delivery. Claiming that they had guns on them, they allegedly took him hostage and ended up robbing Rs 30 lakh in cash. When they left, Chopra immediately called the police, and a case was filed. The suspects, however, are yet to be traced. Chopra, who allegedly owns several CNG pumps across Delhi-NCR, was at his farmhouse in Vasant Kunj when the incident happened. 'A person came to the door, claiming to be a delivery boy. As soon as the complainant (Chopra) opened the door, three more men barged inside and took him hostage. They told him that they have guns, asked him to stay calm and let them leave with the cash,' a police officer said. DCP (South West) Amit Goel said that the information regarding robbery was received at the Vasant Kunj South police station. 'On receipt of the information, SHO, along with staff, reached the spot, where the complainant Karan Chopra was met, who alleged that three to four persons forcefully entered his house and looted around Rs 30 lakh. He told the police that he is engaged in the business of city gas distribution,' he said. The crime and forensics teams were called to the spot immediately, and the investigation was launched. The police are now analysing the footage from CCTV cameras in the nearby areas to get more clues about the robbers. Police are also analysing whether the robbers had visited the area before the robbery for reconnaissance. 'It seems they knew the locality well,' said an officer. A case has been registered under sections 309 (4) (robbery), 331 (house trespass) and 351 (criminal intimidation) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at Vasant Kunj South police station, police said.
Indian Express
16 minutes ago
- Indian Express
WTC Faridabad promoter Ashish Bhalla proposes refund plan for investors before court
By Abhimanyu Sengupta At least 2,224 people, who had invested in the now-stalled Faridabad World Trade Centre (WTC) project, have been chosen for a refund with a court agreeing to a 'refund and settlement plan' proposed by WTC Group promoter Ashish Bhalla, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in March on charges of cheating and money laundering. On May 22, a Faridabad court – presided over by Judicial Magistrate First Class Anil Kumar – allowed Bhalla to open an escrow account to facilitate settlements to the investors. The court was hearing FIRs lodged on the basis of complaints filed by investors, who have alleged they have not been handed over developed residential plots as promised. According to the FIR, WTC Faridabad Infrastructure Development Private Limited – of which Bhalla was a promoter – lured buyers into investing in a project at Sector 111-114 in Faridabad, promising residential plot allotments. However, the promoters allegedly orchestrated a criminal conspiracy, failing to complete the project and withholding plot deliveries for over a decade. On March 6, the ED attached assets worth Rs 2,300 crore, including land in Faridabad, and arrested Bhalla. It alleged that he, among other things, had diverted investor funds. On April 7, the court permitted Bhalla to submit a 'resolution plan', which he did on April 15. Based on the plan, a six-member committee, chaired by Justice (retd) Rajiv Narain Raina of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, was set up to oversee the refund process. On May 8, investors endorsed Bhalla's plan in the Faridabad court. The committee met on May 11, 14, and 18, collecting around 200 consent forms from investors. Claims are still being consolidated and submitted to the court. Since the filing of the FIR last November, of these 2,224 investors, 1,045 have already received the settlement, Bhalla's counsel has informed the court. Investors who consented to the refund and settlement process, however, maintain skepticism. 'Until we get our money back and the committee directly engages with us, we cannot say whether the step is good,' said A K Verma (50), a government employee. 'On an individual basis, we gave our consent for the process. Till it happens, what can we say? We are waiting to get back our hard-earned money,' said SK Gupta, another investor.
Hindustan Times
26 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
₹540-cr ‘drug money' laundered by Akali leader Bikram Majithia: Probe agency
A special investigation team (SIT) probing a high-profile drug case has uncovered a massive money laundering operation involving over ₹ 540 crore, allegedly facilitated by former Punjab minister Bikram Singh Majithia. The Punjab Vigilance Bureau arrested Bikram Singh Majithia after conducting raids at 25 locations in the state, including at the residence of the former minister in Amritsar.(X/@bsmajithia) The Punjab vigilance bureau (VB) on Wednesday arrested Majithia under Prevention of Corruption Act after raiding his residence in Amritsar on Wednesday morning. A detailed seven-page first information report (FIR), registered in VB (flying squad) police station, Mohali, by AIG Swarandeep Singh is based on the SIT's investigation and outlines an extensive money trail linking shell companies, suspicious foreign transactions and unexplained asset accumulation. The FIR was registered against Majithia under Section 13(1)(b), read with Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, which deals with criminal misconduct by a public servant. Specifically, Section 13(1)(b) addresses the offense where a public servant dishonestly or fraudulently misappropriates or converts for their own use any property entrusted to them or under their control as a public servant. Section 13(2) prescribes the punishment for such criminal misconduct, which includes imprisonment for a term not less than one year, which may extend to seven years, and also makes them liable to fine. This new case stems from findings during the ongoing investigation into a 2021 drug-trafficking case registered against Majithia under the Congress government. Officials involved in the probe said that financial documents and transactions linked to Majithia revealed significant discrepancies, prompting the VB to take action under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Majithia is already out on bail in the drug-trafficking case registered under Sections 25, 27A, and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at the Punjab state crime police station. Prosecutors had alleged that he provided logistical and financial support to key figures in the Punjab drug racket, including Jagdish Bhola, Maninder Singh Aulakh and Jagjit Singh Chahal. Majithia was arrested in February 2022 and spent several months in judicial custody before securing regular bail from the Punjab and Haryana high court in August 2022. The Supreme Court upheld his bail in April 2025, but imposed strict conditions, including a bar on influencing witnesses or making public statements about the case. Majithia was most recently questioned in March 2025 by the special investigation team (SIT) regarding hawala transactions and suspicious financial dealings linked to drug syndicates. The SIT, working in conjunction with the vigilance bureau (VB), has traced illicit drug money amounting to more than ₹ 540 crore being systematically funneled through both domestic and international financial channels. The investigation reveals that the laundered money was routed into businesses under Majithia's control or influence. As part of the ongoing investigation, raids conducted at three key locations led to the seizure of over 30 mobile phones, five laptops, three iPads, two desktops, handwritten diaries, property documents and large volumes of records related to Saraya Industries. The seized materials are expected to provide crucial evidence in linking the former minister to the illegal activities, said a VB official. 'So far, ₹ 540 crore of drug money has been tracked as being illegally generated and laundered using Majithia's influence as a public servant while being an MLA and holding a cabinet post in the erstwhile Punjab government,' the spokesperson added. The spokesperson confirmed that all necessary legal procedures were followed during Majithia's arrest. The spokesperson further emphasized that the SIT and VB are committed to ensuring that the investigation reaches its logical and judicial conclusion, with all evidence presented before the court. Investigators are also focusing on the sudden rise in assets linked to Majithia and his wife, which appear to be disproportionate to their declared income. This has prompted tax and enforcement agencies to extend their scrutiny into possible tax evasion and financial misconduct. The FIR also identifies a network of at least 22 individuals and several companies that are suspected of being involved in the money laundering operation. Further arrests, seizures and forensic analysis of the confiscated devices and documents are expected in the coming weeks, the spokesperson said. Majithia is expected to be produced in the Mohali court on Thursday, and the court has granted his lawyers permission to meet him. The investigation is ongoing, with more developments anticipated as forensic analysis and further raids continue, the spokesperson added.
