Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
Punjab Cabinet Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian on Wednesday hit back at former Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu and raised allegations regarding the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) recent search at the residence of his relative, Gurpreet Singh alias Prince, in Sahnewal.
Addressing a press conference in Chandigarh, Mundian dismissed Bittu’s claim that he had left for the United States. “I am addressing a press conference from the party office in Sector 39, Chandigarh, not from America,” he said.
Taking a swipe at Bittu, Mundian remarked that after allegedly losing his political prospects, Bittu appeared to have opened a travel agency near his residence and had “booked tickets” for him and his nephew to send them to the US. He also clarified that Gurpreet Singh alias Prince is his nephew and not his nephew-in-law, accusing Bittu of spreading incorrect information before the media.
Minister’s remarks came after the ED conducted a search at Prince’s residence as part of an alleged money laundering investigation linked to the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA). According to reports, the probe is connected to Tirupati Infraprojects and associated entities.
Mundian alleged that family members present during the search were subjected to harassment. He claimed that Prince’s mother, wife, sister-in-law and three-year-old daughter were at home when the raid began and that the search continued from around 11 a.m. until 3 a.m.
According to the minister, officials questioned family members about their association with him, their earnings and household finances. He alleged that investigators even asked how the family managed expenses based on Prince’s salary.
Mundian further claimed that officials advised Prince’s mother to persuade her son to stop supporting the minister or for the minister himself to leave his party.
The Cabinet Minister also alleged that Prince’s pregnant wife was made to stand for several hours during the search and that other family members, including a mother with a child and a widowed relative, were inconvenienced.
These allegations have not been independently verified. The ED has not issued any public statement addressing the minister’s claims regarding the conduct of officials during the search.
Asserting that he would not be intimidated, Mundian accused the Centre of using central agencies for political purposes ahead of upcoming elections in Punjab. “We are Punjabis and we are not afraid. We will not leave the party out of fear,” he said.
According to available reports, the ED recently carried out searches and surveys at 26 locations across Delhi, Chandigarh, Mohali, Panchkula and Ludhiana in connection with the GMADA-linked investigation. Reports also stated that a laptop was seized from Prince’s residence during the operation.
