Sukhpal Singh Khaira (file photo)
Chandigarh: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday carried out searches at eight premises related to Punjab Ekta Party MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira in Chandigarh, Punjab and Delhi .
Punjabi Ekta Party was a new regional outfit which Khaira floated in 2019, Khaira floated a new regional political outfit, and vowed to give a clean alternative to the people of the state. Earlier, he had resigned from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in protest at the 'dictatorial' attitude of party chief Arvind Kejriwal.
Officials said that the searches were inn connection with drugs money laundering and fake passport racket case. An ED official related to the probe told IANS, "Searches are going on since morning on several premises linked to Khaira."
The official said that the agency is looking after the property papers as well as banking transactions of Khaira and that the action followed the agency registering a money laundering case recently.
Khaira denied any wrongdoing. His counsel blamed the raid for supporting the ongoing farmers' agitation. Senior advocate R.S. Bains, who reached Khaira's residence, told the media that the raid was conducted to target those supporting the ongoing farmers' agitation against three new agricultural laws.
The official said that searches were going on at five locations in Punjab, one in Chandigarh and two locations in Delhi.
The ED teams were also carrying out searches at Sector 5 residence of Khaira in Chandigarh. At the time of the raid Khaira was present in the house along with his lawyer son.
Currently, Khaira is a legislator from Bholath.