ED arrests Baneet Talwar in terror linked drug probe

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Baneet Singh Talwar (son of the late Harminder Singh) on Friday under the PMLA, 2002. The ED produced him that same day before the Special Judge (PMLA) at the Tis Hazari Courts, West District, New Delhi, who remanded him to ED custody for five days. The arrest is in the context of a major narcotics smuggling racket which utilised semi-processed talc as a means of concealment, with multiple seizures in Delhi, Punjab and Haryana.

The ED’s probe is based on an FIR registered by the NIA under the UAPA, 1967; the NDPS Act, 1985; and the IPC, 1860, against Harpreet Singh Talwar and others. The NIA has filed six chargesheets in the case, charging the various accused with conspiracy with an international drug smuggling syndicate operating out of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Dubai. The syndicate was headed by Vitaysh Koser (alias Raju Dubai), who is a wanted accused, along with ISI agents from Pakistan and Afghan nationals.

The NIA’s findings show that the proceeds of crime amounting to Rs 76 crore, generated from the illicit sale of narcotic drugs, were routed through hawala to Afghanistan and used to fund terrorist activities.

Parallel financial investigation by the ED has identified proceeds of crime totalling Rs 89 crore. The proceeds were generated through contraband smuggling and drug sales and were routed to Afghanistan via hawala, with goods received in kind as a return. The ED is continuing its investigation to identify any further proceeds arising out of this.

Baneet Singh Talwar is the brother of Harpreet Singh Talwar (who is also accused of being a facilitator in the smuggling of narcotics into India along with Raju Dubai). Even after Harpreet’s arrest in the NIA case, Baneet continued to run and manage various business entities in his brother’s name.

It was found that Baneet had provided over Rs 55 lakh in funds to M/s Magent India, which was a company under the control of Harpreet and which was involved in the narcotics trade.

Financial analysis has revealed a pattern of round tripping. The money (proceeds of crime) from Harpreet Singh Talwar was funnelled into various businesses, which in turn flowed to Baneet through a series of transactions. The matching and mirror entries across the various entities point to a very structured and organised manner in which the dirty money was being moved. Baneet also used cash deposits to fund the purchase of vehicles which were in the names of the benami entities (the ED had earlier seized several such vehicles). He also parked proceeds received from Harpreet to buy immovable property that Harpreet and his family still enjoy.

The ED has said the arrest is part of the ‘whole of government’ approach to tackle the drug smuggling racket and its links to hawala. They have once again reaffirmed their commitment to national security and the integrity of India’s economic system. Further investigation is underway.