Money laundering charges framed against drug lord Jagdish Bhola

PATIALA: A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court, which is also designated court to hear Prevention of Money Laundering Act cases, framed money laundering charges against drug lord Jagdish Bhola here on Friday.

The charges have been framed on the application of Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is probing the flow of money in connection with the `6,000-crore drug smuggling racket busted by the Punjab Police in 2013.

The court framed the charges under Section 4 of the Act, which carries a maximum punishment of 10 years. The ED had filed a 1,300-page chargesheet alleging Bhola purchased properties from money raised by sale of drugs.

The ED has already confiscated nearly a dozen properties of Bhola in Patiala, Mohali, Chandigarh and other districts.

The court has fixed August 3 as the next date of hearing.