New Delhi, 9th November, 2023: In a significant development, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken decisive measures to freeze assets valued at Rs. 1,34,12,000/- (One Crore Thirty-Four Lakh & Twelve Thousand) on 08.11.2023 after the funds were identified as ‘illegally acquired property’ allegedly belonging to Amritpal Singh, son of Late Satnam Singh, hailing from Tarn Taran, Punjab. This development stems from NIA Case RC-35/2022/NIA/DLI, in which Amritpal Singh has been chargesheeted.
The case pertains to the recovery and seizure of a total of 102.784 kg heroin valued at approx. Rs. 700 crores on 24.04.2022 and 26.04.2022 by the Indian Customs. This illicit heroin consignment from Afghanistan entered India through the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari, Amritsar on April 22, 2022. The contraband was ingeniously concealed in a shipment of Licorice roots (Mulethi).
Initially, the case was registered by the Indian Customs, Amritsar and later NIA took over the investigations, which revealed that the 700 crore worth heroin consignment was being smuggled into India through the land border, on the directives of Dubai-based absconding accused Shahid Ahmed.
The intricate smuggling web involves Afghan-based co-accused Nazir Ahmed Qani, a resident of Mazar-e-Sharif in Afghanistan, who, dispatched the illicit heroin consignment. The contraband was to be delivered to Delhi based accused Razi Haider Zaidi.
The heroin was meant for distribution across various parts of the country, aimed at reaping substantial monetary gains. On 16.12.2022, a Chargesheet in this case has been filed against four accused:
1) Shahid Ahmed, also known as Qazi Abdul Wadood
2) Nazir Ahmed Qani
3) Razi Haider Zaidi
4) Vipin Mittal
Investigations uncovered that the cash amounting to Rs. 1,34,12,000/- (One Crore Thirty-Four Lakh & Twelve Thousand) seized from the premises of Amritpal Singh was ‘proceeds of drugs’.
Investigations have revealed that Amritpal Singh orchestrated the transfer of funds from 2019 to 2021, depositing them directly into the bank accounts of accused individuals Shahid Ahmed, alias Qazi Abdul Wadood, and Razi Haider Zaidi. Additionally, funds were surreptitiously channelled through Hawala transactions.
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 68 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, the cash seized from the premises of Amritpal Singh have been frozen.
Investigations in this case remain open.