ED raids 16 premises in Pathankot illegal sand mining case, seizes ₹1.75 crore cash
Synopsis
The ED's Pathankot sand mining raids go beyond a routine enforcement action — they expose a last-minute land transfer by a retiring official, organised nighttime mining near the international border, and a High Court warning that such activity aids drug smugglers and ISI-linked elements. With ₹1.75 crore in cash seized and the Survey of India now roped in, this case is as much about national security as money laundering.
Key Takeaways
The ED searched 16 premises in Pathankot on 20 July under the PMLA, 2002 in connection with illegal sand mining on shamlat land near the international border.
Unaccounted cash of ₹1.75 crore was seized; bank accounts with a balance of ₹91,34,322 were frozen.
Former ADC Kuldeep Singh allegedly passed the land-transfer order one day before his superannuation , following an appointment made four days prior on a state minister's recommendation.
Shree Sai Stone Crusher and Screener and Shiv Shankar Stone Crusher are among the entities under investigation for unauthorised excavation and sale of river-bed material.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has flagged the mining as a national security risk , noting it facilitates drug smugglers and anti-national elements linked to the ISI .
The Survey of India has been requisitioned for scientific examination of the illegal mining activities.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED), through its zonal office in Jalandhar, Punjab, on Monday, 20 July conducted search operations under Section 17 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 across 16 premises in connection with illegal sand mining on 'shamlat' (common village) land in Pathankot district, situated close to the international border. The searches led to the seizure of unaccounted cash worth ₹1.75 crore and the freezing of bank accounts with an aggregate balance of ₹91,34,322.
What the Searches Uncovered
Investigators recovered incriminating documents related to the illegal excavation, purchase, sale, and transportation of sand and river-bed material without proper authorisation, and without payment of due taxes and royalties. Two stone-crushing entities — Shree Sai Stone Crusher and Screener and Shiv Shankar Stone Crusher — along with their related entities and key management personnel, were covered during the operations.
Notably, trucks, tippers, and excavators were found to have been operating in the area rampantly during nighttime, with some vehicles reportedly running without number plates — pointing to what investigators describe as an organised illegal mining network.
The Role of the Former ADC and How the Case Began
The ED's money laundering investigation was triggered by a First Information Report (FIR) registered by the Vigilance Bureau Police Station, Amritsar, against Kuldeep Singh, the then Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), Pathankot, and eight others. The FIR alleged that Kuldeep Singh illegally transferred common village (shamlat) land situated in Bhattian Village — on the banks of the Ravi river — to private individuals through an impugned order.
According to the ED, Kuldeep Singh's appointment as ADC (Rural Development) in Pathankot was made on the recommendation of a state minister four days before his superannuation. He reportedly passed the alleged transfer order one day before retiring from government service. The role of certain government officials suspected of facilitating the illegal mining and failing to take preventive action — thereby causing losses to the state exchequer — is also under investigation.
National Security Dimension
The case carries serious national security implications. A continuing Public Interest Litigation (PIL) related to mining in the border areas of Pathankot and Gurdaspur is pending before the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The court has previously observed: 'it is evident that mining in the border areas of Pathankot and Gurdaspur districts, especially across the Ravi, is detrimental to national security and any such activity results in facilitating the drug smugglers, terrorists and anti-national elements operating in the hinterland, nurtured and controlled by ISI.'
The High Court had directed the state government to take corrective action, but according to the ED, the mining 'appears to continue unabated.'
What Happens Next
The ED has requisitioned the assistance of the Survey of India for a scientific examination of the illegal mining activities on the disputed land. The investigation under the PMLA is ongoing, with the agency examining the financial trail linking private entities, government officials, and the proceeds of the alleged illegal mining operation.
Point of View
A retirement-eve order, and nighttime convoys of numberplate-less trucks operating near the international border. The Punjab and Haryana High Court's observation linking this mining to ISI-facilitated smuggling networks elevates the stakes well beyond a financial crime. What is striking is that the High Court had already directed corrective action, yet the ED now says mining continues unabated — raising pointed questions about state-level enforcement will. The PMLA route gives the ED attachment powers, but the deeper accountability gap is political, not procedural.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ED's Pathankot sand mining case about?
The ED is investigating illegal sand mining on shamlat (common village) land in Pathankot district, Punjab, close to the international border. The probe covers alleged money laundering arising from the unauthorised excavation and sale of sand and river-bed material from land on the banks of the Ravi river, which was reportedly transferred to private individuals through an impugned order by a retiring government official.
How much cash and assets were seized in the ED raids?
During searches across 16 premises on 20 July, the ED seized unaccounted cash of ₹1.75 crore and issued a freezing order on bank accounts with an aggregate balance of ₹91,34,322.
Who is Kuldeep Singh and what is his alleged role?
Kuldeep Singh is the former Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of Pathankot. He was appointed ADC (Rural Development) on the recommendation of a state minister four days before his retirement and allegedly passed an order transferring common village land to private individuals one day before his superannuation. An FIR by the Vigilance Bureau, Amritsar, names him and eight others.
Why does this case have national security implications?
The mining is taking place near the international border along the Ravi river in Pathankot and Gurdaspur districts. The Punjab and Haryana High Court, in an ongoing PIL, has noted that such mining is 'detrimental to national security' and facilitates drug smugglers, terrorists, and anti-national elements linked to the ISI.
What happens next in the investigation?
The ED's PMLA investigation is ongoing. The agency has requisitioned the Survey of India for a scientific examination of the mining activities. Investigators are also probing the role of government officials suspected of facilitating the illegal operations and failing to take preventive action.
