Punjab gets notice over investment by land mafia, others

Chandigarh, February 26

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today put the state of Punjab on notice on a petition alleging that investment running into “crores of rupees” was made by those involved in land mafia, drug smugglers and by high-ranking police officers.

The notice by Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal came on a petition filed against the state and other respondents by Charan Singh and another petitioner through counsel Navkiran Singh. Taking up the case through videoconferencing, Justice Grewal also fixed April 1 as the next date of hearing in the matter.

Appearing before the Bench, Navkiran Singh contended that the petitioners were partners, along with certain other private respondents, in a real estate company wherein investments were made. “The investment was made to launder black money and was in violation of the Income Tax Act and other statutory enactments,” Navkiran Singh submitted, while praying for investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation. — TNS