ED provisionally attaches 15 immovable properties worth Rs 8.93 cr of Dr Bansal

On July 23, the ED had attached multiple bank accounts, freezing Rs 21 crore, belonging to Dr Bansal, his family members and the now-defunct drug de-addiction centres operated by him in connection with their ongoing investigation into drug diversion and money laundering cases involving private de-addiction centres across Punjab, an ED official said.

The official said the probe involves the alleged misuse of prescription drugs and illegal financial transactions tied to 22 private drug
de-addiction centres in Punjab.

In this connection, the ED had on July 18 conducted coordinated raids at four locations in Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Barnala and Mumbai, the official said.

According to ED sources, the agency is examining “how drugs meant exclusively for registered addicts were diverted and sold illegally” and “how the proceeds from these sales were laundered.”

The ED took over the case from the Punjab Vigilance Bureau, which had initiated the investigation and arrested Dr Bansal around seven months ago.

Though Dr Bansal is currently out on bail, all his 22 drug de-addiction centres in Punjab and one in Chandigarh have been shut down, the ED
official said, adding his Chandigarh centre was also sealed during the ED raid on July 18.

So far, four FIRs have been registered against his centres in various districts, including Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Patiala, the official said, adding the Punjab Vigilance Bureau had arrested him in Chandigarh before handing the case over to the ED.

According to ED sources, thousands of tablets were found missing from Dr Bansal’s centres. During inspections, Dr Bansal reportedly claimed that the unused medicines had been returned to the pharmaceutical companies from which they were procured, a claim now under scrutiny, said ED sources.

In earlier raids, ED sources said, the agency seized thousands of restricted tablets and cash from a Ludhiana hospital and other facilities
linked to Dr Bansal.

Ludhiana-based Drug Inspector Ruppreet Kaur was also named as a co-accused, they added.

The agency alleged that Dr Bansal attempted to cover up the discrepancy with the help of departmental staff and certain officials.

The official confirmed the “seizure of several incriminating documents and electronic devices, which are currently under forensic examination”.

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