The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday carried out simultaneous searches at multiple locations in Punjab’s Pathankot district, including crusher units, business premises and a property dealer’s residence, while officials remained tight-lipped about the nature of the investigation.
According to sources, the searches were conducted at five locations, including crusher units in the border area of Narot Jaimal Singh, the office and premises of a crusher businessman on Salley Road, and the residence of a property dealer in the Taragarh area. The operation began early in the morning with the assistance of local police and security personnel.
Officials are learnt to have examined financial documents, business records and other materials during the searches. However, the ED did not disclose the grounds for the action or confirm the case in connection with which the raids were being carried out.
Sources said the search team, comprising around 20 ED officials, had arrived from Jalandhar. Apart from the Taragarh premises, the agency also searched the office of a prominent crusher businessman near Park Avenue Hotel on Salley Road and a crusher unit located in Datiyal village near the international border.
Another search was also conducted at the residence of a crusher businessman in a lane near a petrol pump on Salley Road, sources added.
No official statement had been issued by the ED till the filing of this report. Media personnel were kept away from the search locations, while the operation was continuing and further details were awaited from the agency.