GURDASPUR: Amid growing concerns over gangster influence in Punjab, Congress MP from Gurdaspur Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa has sought a probe by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Income Tax Department into the alleged flow of funds linked to the network of jailed gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria.In a letter to Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, a copy of which was released to the media on Saturday, Randhawa alleged that substantial sums were being spent on mass marriages, sports events, shagun and other public functions in the Dera Baba Nanak area by Bhagwanpuria’s associates.Questioning the source of these funds, Randhawa sought a detailed financial investigation into their bank accounts, cash transactions, assets, declared income and expenditure.He urged the ED to determine whether the money could represent proceeds of crime generated through drug trafficking, extortion or other scheduled offences, and whether provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act were attracted.Randhawa also sought that the financial trail be matched with existing criminal investigations involving Bhagwanpuria and his associates.He further called for scrutiny of the role of any police or government officials who may have knowingly facilitated or ignored such activities, warning that the alleged conversion of criminal proceeds into social and political influence posed a threat to the rule of law and democratic institutions.
