Illegal mining: Fake eRawanas worth Rs 8.4 cr at core of ED probe

Bhartesh Singh Thakur

Chandigarh, January 27

Fake eRawana receipts worth Rs 8.4 crore for purchasing boulders, gravel and sand, and diversion of the Yamuna for illegal mining are at the heart of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) action on illegal mining in Haryana.

The raids included those conducted on the premises of a former MLA of the INLD, Dilbag Singh, who was arrested in the case, and sent to judicial custody on January 23.

As per the ED, eight FIRs were registered at the Pratap Nagar and Bilaspur police stations, Yamunanagar. The main FIR was dated October 14, 2022, against Om Guru Screening Plant, a mineral dealer, at Belgarh village of Yamunanagar.

Most firms in FIRs non-existent

• The ED registered an Enforcement Case Information Report on May 23, 2023
• Records reflected purchases of boulders, gravel and sand, even though the machinery was dismantled and removed from a particular site a year ago
• Field inquiries revealed that most firms mentioned in FIRs did not exist

As per the FIR, while the machinery was dismantled and removed from the site a year ago, the perusal of purchase records reflected purchases of boulders, gravel and sand, particularly from Mubarikpur Royalty Company, and PS Buildtech.

“It has been verified that the eRawana shown for the purchase of minerals does not exist on the portal, meaning that the mineral shown as purchased was through fake eRawana,” the FIR said, added that, “Fake eRawanas have been used by the screening plant owner to convert illegally mined mineral to legal, and the same has been sold to other screening plants and stone crushers.”

The ED registered an Enforcement Case Information Report on May 23, 2023, and field inquiries revealed that most firms mentioned in the FIRs were non-existent.

During a court hearing before a Special Judge under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, Gurugram, the ED claimed that “the accused (Dilbag Singh) was running a syndicate of illegal mining in the name and style of ‘Majha group’ in Yamunanagar district, vis a vis the neighbouring district, by using his influence and power.”

The group had earned huge money through illegal mining, it said, adding that, “…it was also found that Dilbag Singh and his associate companies were involved in illegal mining activities and proceeds of crime generated by illegal mining were controlled by him, and that he was the ultimate beneficiary of the proceeds of crime by the group being run from the office of PS Buildtech, Sector 15, Yamunanagar”.

During a search at Mubarikpur Royalty Company, Mohali, documents showing details of cash distribution to various persons were received and it was found that Dilbag Singh was involved in multiple transactions depicting that the proceeds of crime were rooted either through his account directly or through dummy firms, the ED claimed.

It was also relying on an order of the National Green Tribunal, dated October 18, 2022, wherein a penalty was imposed on three mining leaseholders for illegal mining, including the Mubarikpur company.