ED searches BJP leader Niti Bhatia’s home amid money laundering probe

A team from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted a raid at the residence of senior BJP leader Niti Sen Bhatia in Model Town, Panipat, on Thursday morning. The raid, reportedly linked to a money laundering probe, continued for several hours, with the ED team remaining inside the house until the time of filing this report.

Simultaneously, the ED also raided Vidit Health Care, a pharmaceutical firm in Paonta Sahib owned by Bhatia’s younger son, Neeraj Bhatia.

Sources said the ED team, accompanied by CRPF personnel, arrived at Niti Sen Bhatia’s residence in the early hours of Thursday in three vehicles. Security personnel were stationed at all three entry points of the house while the team conducted searches.

The ED officials brought in a mechanic to unlock an almirah inside the house and thoroughly searched the cars parked within and outside the premises. The team also examined the rooftop, flower pots and the generator set for possible evidence.

Upon hearing about the raid, former Karnal MP Sanjay Bhatia, a close relative of Niti Sen Bhatia, visited the house. However, as news of the ED action spread, several BJP leaders and supporters gathered outside, though none were allowed entry.

Niti Sen Bhatia’s elder son, Navin Bhatia, has filed his nomination for the mayoral post in the upcoming Panipat civic body elections. His claim is considered strong among BJP aspirants, though the party is yet to finalise its candidates.

Notably, his younger son, Neeraj Bhatia, was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Jammu, in August last year under the NDPS Act. The arrest was linked to an illegal sale of codeine-based cough syrup, following an NCB case registered on January 14.

During the raid last year, the NCB had seized 33.98 kg of codeine-based cough syrup, 900 alprazolam tablets, 56 tramadol capsules, 210 lorazepam tablets, 570 clobazam tablets and Rs 15.03 lakh in cash from Neeraj Bhatia’s residence and that of his associate in Delhi. However, he has since been released on bail by the Jammu and Kashmir High Court.

Niti Sen Bhatia is one of Panipat’s senior-most BJP leaders. He served as chairman of the Municipal Committee in 1987 and contested Assembly elections twice, in 1991 and 1996, though unsuccessfully. He was also the BJP’s district president.