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NEW DELHI | SHIMLA: The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday said it has arrested two persons in a money laundering case related to alleged illegal mining of sand and minerals from rivers in the states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

The two persons — Gian Chand and Sanjay Dhiman — were detained on Monday under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the federal investigating agency said in a statement.

Official sources said they were arrested from Himachal Pradesh.

The case relates to the unauthorized mining of sand and minerals from the Beas River in Himachal Pradesh and the Yamuna River in Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur district.

The ED received formal complaints and intelligence inputs alleging illegal sand and mineral mining operations on the Beas River bed by several mining mafias, including Gian Chand, and crime proceeds of hundreds of crores were generated through these illegal mining operations , the agency said.

ED has taken cognizance of police FIRs filed in both the states to register their money laundering case.

Six FIRs registered by different police stations in Kangra and Una districts of Himachal Pradesh related to illegal mining were analysed. It was stated that “illegal” mining activities were taking place on government lands and dump trucks, heavy earth movers, JCBs and tractors were “actively engaged” in this activity.

“These vehicles were involved in illegal mining of minerals and illegally transported them to stone crushers on overloaded vehicles,” it said.

Another FIR was registered by the Behat police station in Saharanpur (UP) on November 1 against Gian Chand under the Mines and Minerals (Regulation and Development) Act, 1957 and other laws, and this complaint was beaten with the complaints filed in Himachal Pradesh as per ED.

Raids were conducted against various persons and analysis of “incriminating” materials found that Gian Chand and his associates were involved in illegal mining operations from Beas River to Yamuna River.

The proceeds of crime generated from this activity were used to purchase immovable properties and mining machinery like trucks, dumpers, JCBs, crushers etc., the ED said.

Meanwhile, former Himachal Pradesh Industries Minister and BJP leader Bikram Singh, speaking about the arrests, claimed that “people close to the Chief Minister are now in jail”.

“The complaint of illegal mining has been investigated by the ED and those found guilty have been jailed,” he added.

However, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that just because someone from Nadaun — his assembly constituency — is arrested, he should not be linked to it. The BJP leader should refrain from making such statements, Sukhu told mediapersons in Shimla.

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