Punjab Election 2022: ED raids on Channi's 'relative', CM says Centre's pressure tactic before polls

The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday raided multiple locations in poll-bound Punjab, including premises of a relative of Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, The raids were part of a money laundering probe against the 'sand mafia' and companies linked to alleged illegal sand mining, officials said.

They said at least 10-12 locations in the state including in Chandigarh and Mohali are being covered by the officials of the federal agency.

Premises linked to a person identified as Bhupinder Singh alias Honey are also being covered. He is stated to be a relative of CM Channi.

Reacting to raids that have come amid campaigning for the Assembly Elections next month, the chief minister termed them as pressure tactic by the central government.

"When there were polls in West Bengal, such attacks took place on Mamata Banerjee's relatives. Now, in the same pattern in Punjab, ED is trying to put pressure, give trouble. An attempt is being made to create all kinds of pressure," Channi alleged while interacting with reporters.

Opposition parties have earlier linked Channi with the dealings of Honey which the CM has denied.

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Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal attacked his Punjab counterpart over illegal sand mining following the ED raids.

"We have been repeatedly saying that in his (Channi) cabinet, there are people who are involved in illegal sand mining and Channi sahab himself is giving patronage to them," alleged Kejriwal whose Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is among the main contenders in the Punjab polls.