Bhola drug case: ED gives clean chit to Santokh Chaudhary

CHANDIGARH: A day after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) attached houses of former Akali minister Sarwan Singh Phillaur and ex-chief parliamentary secretary (CPS) Avinash Chandar in the multi-crore Bhola drug racket, the agency has given a “clean chit” to Congress Member of Parliament (MP) from Jalandhar Santokh Chaudhary, whose name also figured in the case.

ED sleuths had found Chaudhary’s name in the list of those who received money from Goraya-based businessman Chunni Lal Gaba, a trader whose properties worth ₹150 crore have already been attached by the ED in the drug case.

Keeping this diary as a base, the Jalandhar MP was grilled by ED deputy director Niranjan Singh in October 2015. Even as in Gaba’s diary, the MP’s name was found as “recipient of ₹1 lakh for election fund”, the ED failed to establish any link between Chaudhary and Gaba.

However, sources said in Phillaur’s case, the Gaba family was found to be business partners in one firm whereas Avinash’s entry was found to be over ₹50 lakh. Moreover, Gaba’s son Gurmesh Gaba was made vice-president of the Gorya municipal council, a part of Phillaur constituency represented by Avinash, from 2012 to 2017.

“There was no evidence against Chaudhary and his family and the only entry in Gaba’s diary established that the MP received funds during the election period,” said and ED official.

Chaudhary was summoned only once in the case whereas Phillaur, his son Damanveer Singh and Avinash were summoned repeatedly in last two years.