ED Arrests Two in Major Illegal Mining Case in Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
New Delhi:
The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has arrested two individuals, Gian Chand and Sanjay Dhiman, on November 18, 2024, in connection with an ongoing illegal mining investigation involving the Beas River in Himachal Pradesh and the Yamuna River in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh. The arrested individuals were produced before the Hon’ble Special Court (PMLA), Ghaziabad, on November 19, 2024.
The investigation is part of a larger crackdown on illegal sand and mineral mining operations, particularly in the riverbeds of the Beas and Yamuna rivers. ED had received multiple complaints and intelligence inputs pointing to illegal mining activities carried out by various mining mafias, including the arrested individuals. According to the ED, the proceeds of crime (POC) generated from these illegal activities run into hundreds of crores of rupees.
The ED’s probe was triggered by six FIRs (First Information Reports) filed by various police stations in the districts of Kangra and Una in Himachal Pradesh, where illegal mining operations were taking place. The allegations involve the unlawful extraction of minerals from government land using heavy machinery like tippers, poclains, JCBs, and tractors. These vehicles were reportedly used to extract and transport minerals to stone crushers, often in overloaded conditions, contributing to further environmental damage and illegal business operations.
In addition to the FIRs from Himachal Pradesh, another FIR was registered on November 1, 2024, by Behat Police Station in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, against Gian Chand and others. The charges in this FIR include violations under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984, and the Mines and Minerals (Regulation and Development) Act, 1957 (as amended).
To further the investigation, the ED has also taken cognizance of another FIR registered by the Uttar Pradesh Police. Over the course of the investigation, ED officials have conducted 12 raids at multiple locations associated with the mining mafias, including properties owned by Gian Chand and his associates in Himachal Pradesh and Saharanpur. Statements from several individuals have been recorded, and incriminating materials have been seized.
Upon examination of the seized materials, the ED has found that Gian Chand and his associates were involved in illegal mining operations spanning from the Beas River in Himachal Pradesh to the Yamuna River in Uttar Pradesh. The illicit funds generated from these operations were allegedly used to acquire immovable properties and invest in mining equipment such as trucks, tippers, JCBs, and crushers.
The ongoing investigation seeks to uncover the full extent of the illegal mining operations and the flow of illicit funds, with further action expected as the ED continues to pursue the case.
The Directorate of Enforcement has reiterated its commitment to investigating and curbing illegal mining activities, which not only damage the environment but also contribute to organized crime and unlawful economic gain.
