New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate has got a big success in the money laundering case related to drug trafficking in Mohali, Punjab. The Prevention of Money Laundering Act Special Court of Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar (Mohali) has convicted Dara Singh and Gurdarshan Singh of money laundering and sentenced them to three years of rigorous imprisonment each. The court has also imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 each on both the culprits.
According to Chandigarh Regional Office-1 of the Enforcement Directorate, the court will pronounce the verdict in the case on September 3, 2026. Both were found guilty under Section 3 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
1.230 kg of cocaine revealed the secret of smuggling money
This case is related to the recovery of 1.230 kg of cocaine. On the basis of the FIR lodged by the Punjab Police under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, the Enforcement Directorate had started investigation from the aspect of money laundering. As the investigation progressed, layers of alleged financial transactions related to drug trafficking also came to light. Dara Singh and Gurdarshan Singh were also convicted of the prescribed offenses in the case. Dara Singh was found guilty under Section 22 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, while Gurdarshan Singh was found guilty under Section 29.
Checks of six and four lakh rupees became an important link
During the investigation of the money laundering case, the Enforcement Directorate found two checks of Rs 6 lakh and Rs 4 lakh. The total amount of both the checks was Rs 10 lakh. During investigation, their connection with drug related transactions was found. In an important observation in the case, the court considered the recovered contraband and both the checks within the definition of 'property' under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. According to the court, property acquired as a result of criminal activity related to the prescribed offense will be considered 'proceeds of crime'.
Attack on the economic backbone of the drug trade
The Enforcement Directorate has described the punishment of both the accused as an important action on the economic front against drug trafficking. According to the agency, its operation is not limited only to the recovery of narcotics and arrest of smugglers, but the earnings from this illegal trade and the financial networks associated with it are also being directly attacked. ED says that to weaken the illegal drug trade to its roots, it is necessary to identify its financial sources, stop the flow of illegal money and take action against the property acquired from crime. This decision of Mohali is being considered an important step in the direction of this strategy.