Watch video: SAD's Bikram Singh Majithia blows lid off sand mining scam in CM Channi's constituency
Following the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) raids at various locations in Punjab, including that of Chief Minister Charanjit Singh's nephew Bhupinder Singh Honey and his associates' premises, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia on Saturday blew the lid off a major sand mining scam in Chamkaur Sahib constituency.
The SAD leader accused Charanjit Singh Channi of being hand in glove with his nephew Bhupinder Singh Honey in carrying out illegal sand mining in Punjab, especially in his Chamkaur Sahib constituency.
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Showing photographic and video evidence during a press conference, Bikram Singh Majithia said illegal sand mining was going on in full swing in CM Channi's constituency and he was very well aware of the illegal activities.
He alleged that Charanjit Singh Channi's nephew Bhupinder Singh Honey had been given the security of 'black cat' commandos and an escorts gypsy and there was no check on it. Bikram Singh Majithia accused the Punjab Chief Minister of patronising the sand mafia.
He demanded a CBI probe into illegal mining in Channi’s home constituency of Chamkaur Sahib, including that on forestland.
Senior SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia said only an impartial probe could reveal the extent to which the Chief Minister and his family had "looted the state exchequer through his personal illegal sand mining mafia". “The total loot by Channi in his 111 day tenure will be more than Rs 1,111 crore” he alleged.
"The recordings prove the close nexus between the CM minister and his nephew Bhupinder Singh Honey from whom the ED recovered Rs 10 crore in cash and gold recently and prove they were partners in the illegal sand mining business," he added.
In a sensational disclosure, Bikram Singh Majithia also released audio recordings of the Chief Minister’s closest aide and Salapur village sarpanch Iqbal Singh and his son Binder in which they detailed the entire illegal sand mining operation being run with the "CM's blessings. The audio recordings were done by Darshan Singh, who had befriended members of the sand mafia to expose them. The recordings show that the mafia was also using boats and fork lifts to mine sand from the river bed.
Bikram Singh Majithia showed Honey’s proximity to Channi through various photographs on official pages. He also showed pictures to prove Honey was using a vehicle with an MLA sticker pasted on it.
"Bhupinder Singh Honey is a money-minting machine for the Congress. Besides him, sarpanch Iqbal Singh, Salapur, Chamkaur Sahib constituency, his son Binder, alias Ravinder, Rakesh Chaudhary and CM Channi himself were also involved in illegal sand mining on forestland," alleged Bikram Singh Majithia.
Bikram Singh Majithia said PPCC chief Navjot Singh Sidhu had always been vocal against mining and other illegal activities, but he was tightlipped over the issue.
Bikram Singh Majithia also feared threat of the life of Darshan Singh, who has provided all proofs with regard to illegal sand mining activities under the noose of Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi.
Also read | 35 YouTube channels, 2 Twitter accounts blocked for 'spreading misinformation' Darshan Singh, who owns a sizeable chunk of land in Ropar, said he had raised voice against sand mining in Ropar in 2020 and also filed various RTIs, but in vain. He said sand mining had been posing a serious threat to the ecology of Ropar area. He said these activities had increased ever since Charanjit Singh Channi took over the reins of Punjab. He said this was only the tip of the iceberg, there was more to it.
Notably, the Enforcement Directorate seized over Rs 10 crore in cash, gold worth Rs 21 lakh and a Rolex watch worth Rs 12 lakh during raids on premises of Bhupinder Singh Honey and his associates in Punjab earlier this week.
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-PTC News 
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