The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday raided Punjab's former Forest Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot's residence in Almoh. Sadhu Singh Dharamsot was the state's Forest Minister during Captain Amarinder's regime. On Thursday morning, ED arrived at Dharmsot's house along with the Central Reserve Force. Apart from Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, ED sleuths are reportedly also carrying out raids at the houses of some contractors of the Forest Department and their close relatives.
(While writing) ED is currently present at Dharmsot's house and conducting searches. No one is allowed to enter or go outside the house. As per reports, a few teams have also arrived to raid the houses of Harmohinder Singh, a close associate of Dharamsot and a contractor of the forest department, a close associate based in Khanna, and some other officials.
It is pertinent to mention here that Sadhu Singh Dharamsot is currently out on bail. In February 2023, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau arrested Sadhu Singh Dharamsot for amassing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. Notably during that time, Dharamsot was arrested by VB from Amloh's residence. He was booked under 13(1) (b), 13(2) of prevention of corruption. Even in the year 2022, he was accused of corruption and after spending 89 days in jail, he came out on bail in September 2022.
After Punjab Vigilance registered a case against Dharamshot, he also came under the scanner of the ED. After Dharamsot's bail, ED reportedly asked Vigilance to send documents and an investigation report.