According to ED sources, the ED and I-T have obtained incriminating documents indicating the duo's involvement.
The Sukhu government is reported to have openly favored them, causing significant financial losses to the state treasury.
Based on the FIRs, complaints and field verification reports, the ED launched a PMLA investigation and carried out a search operation on July 4 at M/s Jai Maa Jawala stone crusher in Adhwani Village , Jwalamukhi Tehsil, Kangra, and related premises of its owner Gian. Chand et al.
During searches, the ED uncovered incriminating findings about rampant illegal mining in the state, sources added.
According to sources, preliminary findings suggest that Gian Chand is an influential local businessman and politically exposed person who is a member of the District Congress Committee.
“He is known to be close to current Himachal CM Sukhu. He is the beneficial owner of M/s Jai Maa Jawala Stone Crusher. The ED investigation has revealed that though the stone crusher has a valid licence, large-scale discrepancies have been observed,” a source said.
The discrepancies are the following: first of all, mining is carried out in the river bed itself. Secondly, on the insistence of ED, local mining officials were summoned, who also conducted a survey and verified that rampant illegal mining was going on outside the authorized area, sources said.
Third, large-scale spot sales of mined material were taking place. Fourthly, material illegally extracted from other areas is also crushed and sold without valid transport permits and large cash transactions are carried out on a daily basis.
Fifth, rampant mining has destroyed the fragile ecosystem. Comparison with historical NRSA maps will show that this unit alone has done illegal mining worth hundreds of crores of rupees, sources said.
Sixth, mining activity also takes place at night.
The ED is known to have uncovered evidence of cash transactions, illegal cash deposits of over Rs 8 million in a single account and utilization of cash in land transactions.
According to sources, Gian Chand and his family have also received multiple mid-level tenders for construction of roads, etc., from the state government.
"These tenders are won in the name of benami. Illegally mined material is used in these tenders but fake notes are generated in the name of 'benami' shell entities to siphon off illegal profits. Local officials are approving the works without any quality control and They signed blank inspection reports to Gian Chand. Also, Gian Chand and Rajeev Singh (Himachal CM's brother) have acquired adjacent properties for illegal mining," a source said.
Sources further said that lower level government officials are actively conspiring with the suspects to turn a blind eye to this rampant exploitation of the area, which is responsible for disturbing the ecological balance of the area.
This ecologically sensitive area is now prone to landslides due to unscientific exploitation of the land. In the investigations being carried out by civil, liquor and income tax contractors of Himachal Pradesh: Prabhat Chand, his son-in-law Saurabh Katoch and Ajay Kumar are handling huge amounts of cash and unaccounted transactions of CM Sukhu and his family members .
A company called APR Construction Company is suspected of being involved in major receipt suppression, sources said.
According to sources, Ajay Kumar, along with Parbhat Kumar, were also among the beneficiaries of the land acquisition by Himachal Road Transport Corporation.
"The land acquired by them for Rs 2,60,000 in 2015 was acquired by HRTC for Rs 6.72 crore in 2024, and it has been alleged that this was a scheme to defraud the public exchequer, and the land was acquired from them very overvalued prices," said a source.
"Kangra Central Cooperative Bank is implementing a One Time Settlement (OTS) scheme. The key person facilitating this cash settlement is Vicky Handa, a renowned jeweler from Hamirpur and was suspected to be involved in this alleged OTS fraud scheme. "added the source.
The Sukhu government is reported to have openly favored them, causing significant financial losses to the state treasury.
Based on the FIRs, complaints and field verification reports, the ED launched a PMLA investigation and carried out a search operation on July 4 at M/s Jai Maa Jawala stone crusher in Adhwani Village , Jwalamukhi Tehsil, Kangra, and related premises of its owner Gian. Chand et al.
During searches, the ED uncovered incriminating findings about rampant illegal mining in the state, sources added.
According to sources, preliminary findings suggest that Gian Chand is an influential local businessman and politically exposed person who is a member of the District Congress Committee.
“He is known to be close to current Himachal CM Sukhu. He is the beneficial owner of M/s Jai Maa Jawala Stone Crusher. The ED investigation has revealed that though the stone crusher has a valid licence, large-scale discrepancies have been observed,” a source said.
The discrepancies are the following: first of all, mining is carried out in the river bed itself. Secondly, on the insistence of ED, local mining officials were summoned, who also conducted a survey and verified that rampant illegal mining was going on outside the authorized area, sources said.
Third, large-scale spot sales of mined material were taking place. Fourthly, material illegally extracted from other areas is also crushed and sold without valid transport permits and large cash transactions are carried out on a daily basis.
Fifth, rampant mining has destroyed the fragile ecosystem. Comparison with historical NRSA maps will show that this unit alone has done illegal mining worth hundreds of crores of rupees, sources said.
Sixth, mining activity also takes place at night.
The ED is known to have uncovered evidence of cash transactions, illegal cash deposits of over Rs 8 million in a single account and utilization of cash in land transactions.
According to sources, Gian Chand and his family have also received multiple mid-level tenders for construction of roads, etc., from the state government.
"These tenders are won in the name of benami. Illegally mined material is used in these tenders but fake notes are generated in the name of 'benami' shell entities to siphon off illegal profits. Local officials are approving the works without any quality control and They signed blank inspection reports to Gian Chand. Also, Gian Chand and Rajeev Singh (Himachal CM's brother) have acquired adjacent properties for illegal mining," a source said.
Sources further said that lower level government officials are actively conspiring with the suspects to turn a blind eye to this rampant exploitation of the area, which is responsible for disturbing the ecological balance of the area.
This ecologically sensitive area is now prone to landslides due to unscientific exploitation of the land. In the investigations being carried out by civil, liquor and income tax contractors of Himachal Pradesh: Prabhat Chand, his son-in-law Saurabh Katoch and Ajay Kumar are handling huge amounts of cash and unaccounted transactions of CM Sukhu and his family members .
A company called APR Construction Company is suspected of being involved in major receipt suppression, sources said.
According to sources, Ajay Kumar, along with Parbhat Kumar, were also among the beneficiaries of the land acquisition by Himachal Road Transport Corporation.
"The land acquired by them for Rs 2,60,000 in 2015 was acquired by HRTC for Rs 6.72 crore in 2024, and it has been alleged that this was a scheme to defraud the public exchequer, and the land was acquired from them very overvalued prices," said a source.
"Kangra Central Cooperative Bank is implementing a One Time Settlement (OTS) scheme. The key person facilitating this cash settlement is Vicky Handa, a renowned jeweler from Hamirpur and was suspected to be involved in this alleged OTS fraud scheme. "added the source.
