17 Convicted in Major Punjab Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering Case

A special PMLA court in Mohali, Punjab, convicted 17 individuals, including Jagdish Singh alias Bhola, in a significant drug trafficking and money laundering case. Bhola, a former wrestler and policeman turned drug mafia, received a 10-year jail sentence. The investigation began in 2013, resulting in a comprehensive charge sheet filed in 2015.

A special PMLA court in Punjab's Mohali on Tuesday convicted 17 individuals, including the alleged kingpin, Jagdish Singh alias Bhola, in a high-profile drug trafficking and money laundering case, official sources reported.

Bhola, a former wrestler and policeman-turned-drug mafia figure, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison alongside another accused, Avtar Singh Taro. The federal probe agency initiated the investigation in 2013 based on eight FIRs registered by Punjab Police across various stations.

In 2015, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a charge sheet against 23 accused, of which two were declared absconders while four died, leading to the abatement of proceedings. This case marks a significant success as all 17 prosecuted individuals were convicted under anti-money laundering laws. Others convicted include Sundeep Kaur, Jagminder Kaur, Gurpreet Kaur, and more, with sentences ranging from 3-10 years. The Bhola drug money laundering case pertains to a multi-crore synthetic narcotics racket unearthed in 2013-14, which led to Bhola's arrest and asset attachment worth Rs 95 crore.

(With inputs from agencies.)