JALANDHAR: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday said it had arrested former additional deputy commissioner (ADC) of Punjab’s Rural Development Department Kuldeep Singh and a private individual in connection with the alleged illegal transfer of 92 acres of land in Pathankot district, near the India-Pakistan international border.
Kuldeep Singh and Nipun Mahajan, who is associated with stone-crushing and mining businesses, were arrested on November 11. A special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Jalandhar has remanded them in ED custody until November 16.
In a press statement, the central agency alleged that Punjab Food, Civil Supplies and Forests Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak had recommended Kuldeep Singh for the post in February 2023.
According to the ED, Kataruchak had recommended him to the then rural development and panchayat minister through a demi-official (DO) letter dated February 23, 2023. The agency further alleged that a request to expedite the order concerning the transfer of the shamlat land was conveyed to Kuldeep Singh through an intermediary.
The ED claimed that Kuldeep Singh passed an order in favour of private claimants on February 27, 2023, a day before his retirement.
Kataruchak could not be contacted immediately for his response to the allegations made by the ED.
Regarding Mahajan, the agency claimed that he had disclosed entering into powers of attorney and sale agreements with the accused named in the FIR to take possession of the mineral-rich shamlat land. He allegedly made payments through bank accounts and cash.
The ED case is based on an FIR registered by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau in Amritsar in August 2023 over allegations that 92 acres of shamlat land in Bhattian village of Pathankot district were fraudulently transferred into the names of private individuals.
The land is situated in the Ravi river belt, close to the India-Pakistan international border.
