High Court takes strict stand on illegal mining on attached land, issues directions to Punjab Police

PTC Web Desk: The Enforcement Directorate's (ED) attachment of six acres of land at Kheda Kamalot village due to alleged illegal mining has prompted a decisive intervention by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The court has taken a stern stance on unlawful mining activities believed to be occurring on the attached land.

During the proceedings, the Punjab and Haryana High Court indicated that if all accused are not apprehended and placed in custody by the next scheduled hearing, the case might be transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a thorough investigation.

Amidst these developments, the Station House Officer (SHO) stated that necessary actions were underway to address the situation. However, concerns persist regarding the gravity of illegal mining operations taking place on the land that was previously seized by the ED.

In response to the issue, the High Court has granted the government a two-week window to take decisive action. Furthermore, the court has issued a directive stating that if the accused in this case remain at large by the forthcoming hearing, the investigation might be handed over to the CBI for further scrutiny. 

The court has adjourned the next hearing until December 11 to allow the authorities the specified timeframe to act upon the directives provided. Notably, SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia visited the site of illegal mining in the village, shedding light on the ongoing illicit activities and bringing the issue to public attention.

Meanwhile, former minister and senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader, Bikram Singh Majithia, raised serious allegations regarding the surge of illegal mining in Ropar district, pointing fingers at the actions of recently transferred SSP Vivek Sheel Soni and Education Minister Harjot Bains. Majithia demanded a comprehensive CBI investigation into the assets of both individuals and their alleged involvement in illegal mining activities.

In the press conference, Majithia accused Vivek Sheel Soni of not only disregarding NGT guidelines and Punjab and High Court directives but also covering up the wrongdoings of Harjot Bains' family, who he claimed were engaged in unlawful mining. He emphasised the necessity of probing the benami (anonymous) assets of these individuals, including potential overseas assets, alleging their link to illicit practices.

Highlighting a specific incident related to the Ropar police, Majithia alleged that under Soni's leadership, efforts were made to conceal illegal mining on land seized by the Enforcement Directorate. Despite the subsequent registration of an FIR, the location of the land was allegedly changed in the FIR to render it ineffective deliberately.

Majithia pointed out previous instances where Soni had faced scrutiny by the high court for omitting key information in FIRs, citing an incident where Justice Sherawat demanded the submission of FIRs related to illegal mining and details on delays in acting against drug traffickers.

The SAD leader raised concerns about the adverse impact of illegal mining on vital infrastructure projects. He cited examples such as the Sutlej River bridge at Anandpur Sahib, on the brink of collapse due to rampant illegal mining downstream, and highlighted the threat to defense projects along the Pakistan border, a matter previously noted by the high court.

Majithia also criticised the AAP government for allegedly converting illegal mining material into legal stock by charging a fee of Rs 6 per unit from truckers carrying illicit sand, creating a scenario where Punjab had become a hub for illegal smugglers without stringent scrutiny or differentiation between materials sourced within or outside the state.

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