ED raids 4 locations in drug misuse and money laundering case linked to Punjab de-addiction centres

The case first surfaced around seven months ago when the Punjab Vigilance Bureau arrested Dr Amit Bansal, a Chandigarh-based physician, for allegedly misusing Adnoc-N – a combination of Buprenorphine and Naloxone – intended for rehabilitation patients. The medication was being sold illegally to non-registered drug users.

Bansal was reportedly operating through a network of 22 private de-addiction centres. During earlier raids, authorities seized thousands of restricted tablets and over Rs 90,000 in cash from a hospital in Ludhiana and other associated facilities. Drug Inspector Ruppreet Kaur from Ludhiana was also named a co-accused in the case, although her arrest was pending at that time.

Further investigation uncovered other irregularities. At a hospital in Nakodar (Jalandhar), nearly 1.44 lakh tablets were found missing from the inventory. Officials alleged that Bansal attempted to cover up the discrepancies with the help of certain departmental staff and officers.

With the money laundering angle now under the ED’s lens, Friday’s raids aimed to collect digital records and financial transactions linked to the illegal sale of controlled substances. ED officials have confirmed the seizure of several incriminating documents and electronic devices, which are now being examined.

Authorities said more arrests could follow as the probe deepens.

Earlier, the former deputy commissioner of Jalandhar had also conducted an inquiry against Bansal for alleged ‘misappropriation’ of his Nakodar-based drug-de-addiction centre. In the inquiry, several discrepancies were found.