Haryana MLA Surender Panwar Arrested for Illegal Mining
On July 20, 2024, the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) arrested Haryana MLA Surender Panwar in connection with an illegal mining case. Panwar, who represents Sonipat, was taken into custody by the ED’s Gurugram Zonal Office.
He was produced before the Special Court (PMLA) in Ambala, Haryana, and has been remanded to ED custody for 9 days. The ED’s investigation revealed that Panwar, along with former MLA Dilbag Singh and their associates, controlled a mining syndicate in the Yamuna Nagar area.
The investigation, based on multiple FIRs registered by Haryana Police, found that Panwar and his family are major shareholders in M/s Development Strategies (India) Pvt Ltd, a company involved in illegal mining. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had previously imposed penalties on this and other companies for environmental violations.
The total proceeds from these illegal mining activities are estimated to be over Rs 500 crore. Earlier this year, the ED had conducted search operations and arrested former MLA Dilbag Singh and his aide Kulwinder Singh.
Further investigation is ongoing.
Doubts Revealed
Haryana -: Haryana is a state in northern India. It is known for its rich culture and history.
MLA -: MLA stands for Member of Legislative Assembly. They are elected representatives who make laws for a state in India.
Surender Panwar -: Surender Panwar is a politician from Haryana who was serving as an MLA before being arrested.
Arrested -: Arrested means being taken into custody by the police because they believe you have done something illegal.
Illegal Mining -: Illegal mining is when people dig up valuable minerals or resources from the ground without permission from the government.
Directorate of Enforcement (ED) -: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) is a government agency in India that investigates financial crimes like money laundering.
Former MLA Dilbag Singh -: Dilbag Singh is a politician who used to be an MLA, but is no longer serving in that position.
Mining Syndicate -: A mining syndicate is a group of people who work together to mine resources, often illegally in this context.
Yamuna Nagar -: Yamuna Nagar is a city in Haryana, India, known for its industries and timber trade.
Shareholders -: Shareholders are people who own shares or parts of a company.
Proceeds -: Proceeds are the money earned from a particular activity or event.
Rs 500 crore -: Rs 500 crore is a large amount of money in Indian currency, equivalent to 5 billion rupees.
Remanded to ED custody -: Remanded to ED custody means that the person will stay with the Directorate of Enforcement for a certain period while they investigate.
