ED files supplementary plaint against Punjab ex-minister Dharamsot, four others

The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Jalandhar, recently filed a supplementary prosecution complaint in the Special Court, Mohali, against former Forest Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot and four others under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Fresh investigations by the agency had revealed that Forest Officer Sukhwinder Singh and Block Officer Mohinderpal Singh had embezzled funds to the tune of Rs 53.64 lakh. The funds were allotted to the Budhladha forest range for procuring tree guards under the Compensatory Afforestation Scheme. No such procurement was, however, made. Instead, funds were routed to the bank accounts of casual workers and their family members and subsequently withdrawn in cash.

The ED filed the first prosecution complaint against the ex-minister on March 13, 2024, on the basis of FIRs registered by the Vigilance Bureau. The ED’s initial investigation had revealed that Dharamsot had accepted bribe in lieu of granting permits for felling of khair trees, effecting transfers and postings of officers in the Forest Department and issuing no objection certificates (NOCs).

Investigations into the disproportionate assets case revealed that Dharamsot acquired poceeds of crime worth Rs 6.34 crore. He was arrested in the case in January 2024.