ED concludes raid at BJP leader’s house in Panipat after 18 hours
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) team concluded the raid at the residence of senior BJP leader Niti Sen Bhatia in Model Town after 18 hours. The team left the premises at around 12.20 am, taking away records of all properties, vehicles and other goods in the residence.
Notably, the ED team began the raid at 6.30 am on Thursday. The raid was reportedly linked to a money laundering probe. Simultaneously, the ED also raided Vidit Health Care, a pharmaceutical firm in Paonta Sahib in Himachal Pradesh owned by Bhatia’s younger son, Neeraj Bhatia.
Routine inspection, officials satisfied: Ex-MP
* After the raid, former MP Sanjay Bhatia said it was a routine ED raid, and they (the team) had checked what they had information about.
* They made a list of the goods in the house and were satisfied with the records, he said. It was a normal procedure, and nothing serious was found
After the raid, former MP Sanjay Bhatia said it was a routine ED raid, and they had checked what they had information about. They made a list of the goods in the house and were satisfied with the records, he said. It was a normal procedure, and nothing serious was found.
They acted according to their due course of law. There was no tension among the family members during the raid, the former MP said. The team also inquired at the factory in Paonta Sahib and had checked the factory earlier, he said.
“If the team comes again, the family is ready to support in all ways. After getting information of the raid, I reached home because Niti Sen Bhatia is very elderly and has problems with his sight, and only two women were at home. The raid is concluded, and the team went away,” Bhatia said.
Earlier, the ED officials carried out searches on the premises and thoroughly searched the cars parked within and outside the premises, rooftop, flower pots and the generator set for possible evidence.
The team found five luxuries cars, including two Mercedes, two Fortuners and a Defender of worth corers of rupees, and a stock of foreign liquor. The team also inquired about all these vehicles, property documents, and other things from the family members.
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. However, he has since been released on bail by the Jammu and Kashmir High Court.
