01 August 2024

On July 30, 2024, the Special Judge (PMLA) in SAS Nagar delivered a significant verdict in a major drug and money laundering case initiated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in 2013. The court convicted 17 out of 23 accused individuals, including the central figure, Jagdish Singh Bhola, a former Punjab Police DSP, who received a 10-year prison sentence. Six other key members of the drug cartel were also sentenced to 10 years.  

Additionally, Bhola's wife and father-in-law, along with others involved, were sentenced to 3 years in prison, while four individuals who assisted with financial transactions received 5-year sentences. The court also ordered the confiscation of assets worth Rs 12.37 Crore, previously seized by the ED, which had earlier attached assets totaling Rs 95 Crore. This ruling highlights the court’s rigorous approach to tackling organized crime and financial offenses.