The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Haryana Congress MLA Surender Panwar in connection with a money-laundering case tied to “illegal” mining activities according to official sources on Saturday. The 55-year-old legislator was detained in the wee hours in Gurugram and is set to appear before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Ambala, where the agency will request a custodial remand.
The ED had conducted raids on Panwar’s properties in January, targeting “large-scale illegal mining” operations in the Yamunanagar region. This investigation previously led to the arrest of former Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) legislator Dilbag Singh and his associate, Kulwinder Singh.
The case stems from multiple FIRs filed by the Haryana Police, investigating alleged illegal mining of boulders, gravel, and sand in Yamunanagar and nearby areas, despite a ban imposed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The ED is also investigating potential fraud in the “e-Ravana” scheme, an online portal launched by the Haryana government in 2020 to streamline royalty and tax collection and curb tax evasion in mining regions.
According to the ED, the alleged illegal mining operations have generated slush funds estimated at ₹ 400-500 crore over the past few years. Assembly elections for Haryana’s 90 seats are scheduled to take place later this year.
The Mining Case
The case involving Haryana Congress MLA Surender Panwar centers around allegations of illegal mining and money laundering. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Panwar on July 20, 2024, as part of an ongoing investigation linked to multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) filed by the Haryana Police. These FIRs address illegal mining activities in regions such as Yamunanagar and Sonipat, where operations continued despite a ban from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) due to expired mining leases and court orders.
The investigation has revealed significant financial irregularities, including the recovery of ₹5 crore in cash, foreign firearms, and incriminating documents during previous searches at Panwar’s residence in January 2024. The ED is also examining potential fraudulent activities related to the ‘e-ravan’ scheme, which was designed to streamline tax collection in mining operations
Political Reaction
The arrest of Haryana Congress MLA Surender Panwar has erupted diverse reactions from political leaders. The Congress party condemned the arrest, calling it politically motivated and accusing the BJP of using central agencies to target opposition leaders ahead of the assembly elections. Senior Congress figures pledged legal support for Panwar, asserting his innocence.
Meanwhile, BJP leaders supported the arrest as a demonstration of their commitment to combating corruption. They argued that the law applies to everyone, criticizing Congress for allegedly protecting corrupt individuals and failing to address illegal mining under their tenure.
The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), with their own former legislator Dilbag Singh also implicated, called for a fair investigation and transparency, expressing concerns over potential political misuse of central agencies. They emphasized the need to tackle the root causes of illegal mining.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) criticized both Congress and BJP, highlighting systemic corruption and advocating for stringent measures in the mining sector. They positioned themselves as proponents of clean governance.
