Laundering of Rs 540 crore of ‘drug money’: Majithia’s conduct was doubtful, says former ED deputy director

Singh, who appeared before the Vigilance Bureau in connection with their investigation into the alleged money laundering case against Majithia, said he had recorded his “verbal statement” with the Bureau. “Being with ED, I started the investigation in the case in 2013, and it went on till 2017. I was not able to complete that because I was transferred and promoted. I cannot reveal everything to the media as the investigation is pending. We gather a lot of evidence in financial investigations. I can just add that there is a doubtful conduct,” he said, referring to Majithia.

The bureau on June 25 arrested Majithia in the case allegedly involving the laundering of Rs 540 crore of “drug money”. The former Punjab minister was sent to a seven-day custody by a Mohali court on June 26.

He also accused Majithia of getting him transferred out of Jalandhar when he was in the midst of the investigation. “What the Punjab government is saying about linking drug money with disproportionate assets case, I have no link with that. There is no evidence of this link at this juncture. The investigation was delayed. The credit for the delayed investigation goes to Majithia. He got it done. I am saying this on record. I was transferred several times,” Singh said.

“The ED has a clear mandate: if an FIR is lodged under the NDPS Act case and recovery is made, then the agency enters into it and takes details about how crime money was generated, laundered and investigated. There were 102 accused, and they were investigated. I was not able to complete it. I had the support of the department for many years. When I summoned Majithia in 2014, I was transferred to Kolkata. The HC later cancelled this transfer. There was non-cooperation by the department after that, and some steps were taken by the authorities which do not go in favour of the investigation.”
“I told them that now I am retired. I have no documents. They can get copies of those documents from the ED. I will come and certify those,” Singh said.

Recalling the case, he said, “The initiation of investigation was done as a case of drugs. I investigated for the ED and submitted the status report to the high court. The HC examined the report and gave it to the STF. The STF examined it and gave its observation to the HC. The court then directed the Punjab government to take action, but the government did not take action.”

He said the 2021 FIR was based on the status report filed by him and the STF. “Now, the Vigilance is investigating the money laundering. Because the initiation of the investigation was done by me, they wanted me to come and help them. I can say the documents in both cases are the same. It is the same story and the same facts. The money laundering is linked. They have to do the investigation now,” Singh said.

“When we started the investigation, drug kingpin Jagdish Bhola’s statement was recorded. Majithia’s name is mentioned in his statement. Later, I investigated Bittu Aulakh. He, too, wrote his name. Bhola has been convicted. I got 17 accused convicted, and their illegal property was attached and confiscated. This case has the same ground. The guilty are behind bars,” Singh said.

He said, “The matter is still under investigation. Whatever is in the court and public domain, I can tell. Some people in contact with him were in Canada. We sought an investigation report about them from the Canadian government. The government never sent it to us. They were Satpreet Satta, Amrinder Singh Laddi, Parminder Singh Pindi and many others.”

“I have recorded statements in which his name figures. I have submitted the report to the court. Based on those statements only, 17 persons were convicted. That means the court agreed with my statements and evidence,” he said.

He said, “The challan was to be presented by the SIT, but they did not. I can only help whenever an agency seeks my help.”

He said that the Vigilance had never contacted him earlier. “I have given a verbal statement. The police have to record it. I gave the details of the Bhola drug case and what came into the investigations about Majithia. I had submitted the statements of Bhola and Aulakh in the trial court. The contents of their statement were required by the VB. I have told them about it.”

“I am neither in favour nor against anyone. I am only responsible for the investigation I have done. There is no politics as far as my investigation is concerned. There are many statements, there are revelations, and the accused has named him. Since the investigation is pending, it is not fair to say anything. The investigation is going on, and is live and in progress. It has not been closed,” he added.