Enforcement Directorate.
| Photo Credit: The Hindu
The Enforcement Directorate has attached assets worth ₹25.16 crore in connection with in the case of Sunder Marketing Associates and others, pertaining to alleged illegal mining of stone and associated minor minerals in Haryana.
The attached properties include seized cash, agricultural land parcels, residential plots, residential house, flat, and commercial office.
The probe is based on a prosecution complaint filed by the Haryana State Pollution Control Board under the Environment Protection Act, against Goverdhan Mines and Minerals and others. Subsequently, a First Information Report was registered against Sunder Marketing Associates, its partners Naveen Goel and Raman Sokhal, and others based on the ED findings, said the agency.
According to the agency, its investigation revealed that Raman Sokhal, Vinod Sokhal, and Satbir Singh Chhikara, in connivance with close associates, formed Sundar Marketing Associates and obtained mining lease of “Dadam Hill” located in Tosham village of Bhiwani district of Haryana in 2015 for mining of stone and associated minor mineral.
As alleged, they acquired ill-gotten money by illegal and unscientific mining beyond the mining area, causing loss to the exchequer and corresponding gains to themselves. “It is worth mentioning here that rampant illegal mining in the area caused landslides killing five persons,” it said.
The ED had earlier conducted searches and seized cash, bank balances, jewellery, luxury cars, etc. worth ₹4.81 crore. “…Vedpal Singh Tanwar, the key person of Goverdhan Mines and Minerals, was arrested…on May 30, 2024, and his regular bail was rejected by Special Court (Saket, Delhi)…Presently, he is on interim bail on medical grounds,” said the agency.
The agency has quantified the alleged proceeds of crime to be at least ₹71.32 crore, which was used to acquire movable and immovable properties.
Published – April 07, 2025 09:17 pm IST