Ahead Polls: Enforcement Directorate Raided CM Channi's Nephew

Mr. Channi's Nephew is linked with illegal sand mining

New Delhi: Ahead of the upcoming Punjab Assembly Polls, State's Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi's nephew and several others were raided today by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with illegal sand mining.

Just weeks before the state polls, Chief Minister Channi's nephew Bhupinder Singh Honey's home and ten other places in Punjab were searched early this morning.

As the officials said, the Enforcement Directorate has filed a case of money laundering and is investigating several people with political links.

The raids and investigations come in the middle of intense campaigning in Punjab, which will vote on February 20. The results will be declared on March 10.

Illegal sand mining has been one of the talking points in the Punjab campaign. The ruling Congress has been accused by its former Chief Minister, Amarinder Singh, of links to the trade.

Amarinder Singh, who quit the Congress after being sacked as Chief Minister in September, alleges that all Congress MLAs are involved in the illegal trade of sand.

Last month, Mr Amarinder said, "If I start telling names I will have to start from the top."

He also alleged and told the reporters that he had informed Congress president Sonia Gandhi about MLAs involved.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which has emerged as a strong challenge to the Congress in Punjab, has also targeted Chief Minister Channi over allegations of illegal sand mining in his constituency.

Today, AAP declares Bhagwant Mann as party CM's face for the upcoming polls. Mr. Mann received the maximum votes of 93% in a drive launched by AAP in which citizens can choose their representatives.