ED Attaches Congress MLA Sukhpal Khaira’s Chandigarh House in Drug-Linked Money Laundering Case
In a fresh setback for Bholath Congress MLA Sukhpal Khaira, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached his Sector-5 house in Chandigarh in connection with a drug trafficking-linked money laundering case.
House Attached as ‘Proceeds of Crime’
The ED has attached Khaira’s property, considering it as proceeds of crime (POC). Investigations revealed that Khaira allegedly received ₹3.82 crore from an international drug syndicate operated by Gurdev Singh and his overseas associates.
According to the ED’s statement, Gurdev Singh provided ₹3.82 crore to Khaira in exchange for protection and safe passage for drug smuggling. Additionally, the funds were allegedly used to finance Khaira’s election campaigns.
Gurdev Singh, a former chairman of the Market Committee, Dhilwan, was reportedly a close associate of Khaira. Between April 1, 2014, and March 31, 2020, the ED found that Khaira and his family incurred total expenses of ₹6.61 crore, exceeding their known sources of income by ₹3.82 crore. These discrepancies were identified through handwritten notebooks seized during searches conducted on March 9 and 10, 2021.
Khaira’s Arrest and Legal Proceedings
Khaira was arrested on November 11, 2021, under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). A prosecution complaint was filed against him and Gurdev Singh before the PMLA Court in Mohali on January 6, 2022. The charges were formally framed on October 17, 2023.
Khaira Denies Allegations, Calls It Political Vendetta
Reacting to the ED’s action, Khaira denied receiving any official notice about the attachment of his property.
“I have received no notice from the ED or any other government agency regarding my Chandigarh house. Instead of notifying me, the news has been leaked to the media. This is nothing but character assassination and part of the BJP’s misuse of the ED to target opposition leaders across India,” Khaira stated.
Link to 2015 Fazilka Drug Case
Khaira’s alleged involvement traces back to a 2015 drug case in Fazilka, where the Punjab Police conducted raids and investigations. The case involved the seizure of:
- 1.8 kg of heroin
- One .315 bore pistol and two live cartridges
- Two Pakistani SIM cards
- One .32 bore revolver with 24 live cartridges and one blank cartridge
- 24 gold biscuits
- Multiple mobile phones
Of these, 350 g of heroin, one Pakistani SIM, one .32 bore Webley & Scott revolver, 24 live cartridges, one empty cartridge, and 24 gold biscuits (weighing 333 g) were recovered from Gurdev Singh.
The Fazilka court convicted Gurdev Singh and eight others under various sections of the NDPS Act on October 31, 2017.
With the ED tightening its grip, the case against Sukhpal Khaira continues to escalate, adding to his legal troubles and political challenges.
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