The Enforcement Directorate raided multiple locations in Haryana and Rajasthan on Tuesday morning in connection with a money laundering case registered against the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, according to officials.
The ED carried out raids in a dozen locations in both the states after the gang was charged under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
Bishnoi, who is imprisoned in a separate case, is one of the accused in the murder case of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala.
The central probe agency carried out raids based on FIRs and chargesheets filed against Bishnoi and his aide Goldy Brar by the National investigation Agency (NIA).
The ED is investigating the charges that the money collected through drug and arms smuggling as well as extortion by Bishnoi's gang was allegedly transferred to Canada and other countries to fund pro-Khalistani outfits.
Bishnoi who hails from Punjab's Fazilka has been imprisoned since 2014 after Rajasthan police arrested him in an encounter. In 2021, he was moved to Delhi's Tihar jail.
On June 14, 2022, Punjab police arrested him in connection with the May 2022 murder of singer Sidhu Moosewala.
According to a statement by NIA, "Investigations have revealed that a terrorist, gangster and drug smugglers syndicate led by Bishnoi was involved in many targeted killings and extortion from businessmen and professionals, including doctors, and this had created a widespread scare and terror among the public at large.”