Chandigarh Jan 19 PTI Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Wednesday accused the BJP-led central government of hatching a conspiracy to trap him in the case in which raids were conducted by the Enforcement Directorate at many places in the poll-bound state Channi also hit out at the BJP for trying to take revenge on him over the return of Prime Minister Narendra Modi without attending a scheduled event and addressing a rally during his visit to Ferozepur earlier this month He dubbed the Enforcement Directorate ED raids at houses and offices belonging to his nephew into money laundering allegations linked to a 2018 illegal sand mining case as vendetta politics He claimed that his nephew was not even booked in the 30-year-old case A conspiracy has been hatched to trap me in this case claimed Channi at a press conference here referring to the ED raids conducted at the residence of his nephew on Tuesday He alleged that attempts were being made by the federal probe agency sleuths to implicate him in the case Punjab goes to the polls on February 20 ED sources said on Wednesday about Rs 10 crore cash has been seized during the raids conducted in an anti-money laundering investigation against illegal sand mining operations in Punjab that included about Rs 8 crore from the premises linked to Bhupinder Singh alias Honey a nephew of Channi ED officials said the action has been initiated after taking cognisance of the 2018 FIR of the Nawanshahr Police and some other such police complaints against some companies and individuals alleged to be involved in the business of illegal sand mining in the state Channi claimed that his nephew was tortured to name the chief minister in the case but the ED sleuths could not link him to it If he nephew is wrong then hang him but why attempt is being made to trap and implicate me he asked Interrogation of his nephew lasted 24 hours and every attempt was made to trap me Throughout the night the court was kept open that he Channi will be presented before the court after the arrest When no proof was found against me during the 24 hours interrogation no FIR was lodged the chief minister claimed Channi further claimed that the investigating officials even reminded his nephew about PM Modis visit and also threatened to prevent the chief minister and other Congress leaders from contesting the elections It is a conspiracy of the Delhi government Centre he alleged Channi also sought to link the ED raids at the premises of nephew to Modis recent visit to Ferozepur during which he returned without addressing any event and a rally after the PMs convoy got stuck for 15-20 minutes because of farmers protest What was my fault if Modi had to returnwhy revenge is being taken on me he asked Channi also hit out at Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal who targeted the former over the raids The AAP national convener had dubbed as political vendetta when the son of the brother-in-law of his was held in 2018 for the alleged irregularities in road and sewer development works department he said Channi further alleged that whenever elections are near the BJP-led central government uses agencies like ED Income Tax and others against political opponents to arm-twist them to win the polls He urged the Election Commission of India to put a stop to the alleged conspiracies of the central government for holding free and fair assembly polls in Punjab Referring to the ED raids he said It is a planted show Phones were being tapped but they did not find anything from my house or my brothers family said Channi He said he always prayed for the good health of the prime minister I say even if they kill me I am ready if they have to register any case and put me behind bars it does not make a difference But we will not bow down Channi said Has anyone from the AAP joined the BJP in the run-up to Punjab polls he asked While on the other hand many of the Congress leaders were being arm-twisted to join the saffron party so that the Aam Aadmi Party AAP wins polls in the state he alleged This is Modis and BJPs thinking Channi said Kejriwal has an understanding with the BJP No one is saying anything to AAP the election field is open for them but not for us They are trying to put us under pressure he said He further alleged that former chief minister Amarinder Singh and Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia had a role in this conspiracy referring to the ED raids All of them are together in this to target one person Channi he added Amarinder Singh denied the charge and his media advisor quoted him as saying ED doesnt report to me CHARANJITCHANNI Nor did I plant the money seized from your kin So stop blaming me for your familys crimes As I always say the law takes its own course something that INCIndia forgot when they accused me of shielding culprits PTI CHSSUN AQS AQS

Chandigarh Jan 19 PTI Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Wednesday accused the BJP-led central government of hatching a conspiracy to trap him in the case in which raids were conducted by the Enforcement Directorate at many places in the state He alleged that whenever elections are to take place the BJP government at the Centre uses agencies like the Enforcement Directorate ED Income Tax and others against political opponents to target and arm-twist them A conspiracy has been hatched to trap me in this case claimed Channi referring to the ED raids conducted at the residence of his nephew on Tuesday He alleged that attempts were being made by the federal probe agency sleuths to trap him in the case Channi accompanied by some ministers including Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa was addressing a press conference ED sources said on Wednesday about Rs 10 crore cash has been seized during the raids conducted in an anti-money laundering investigation against illegal sand mining operations in Punjab that included about Rs 8 crore from the premises linked to Bhupinder Singh alias Honey a nephew of Channi Another about Rs 2 crore has been seized from the premises linked to a person identified as Sandeep Kumar they said Reacting to the ED raid at his nephews premises Channi claimed that he was not even named in a 2018 FIR of the Nawanshahr Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district Police However officials said the action has been initiated after taking cognisance of the 2018 FIR of the Nawanshahr Police and some other such police complaints against some companies and individuals alleged to be involved in the business of illegal sand mining in the state Channi also sought to link the ED raids at the premises of his nephew to the recent scheduled Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Ferozepur during which the PM returned without addressing a rally after his convoy got stuck for 15-20 minutes due to farmers protest What was my fault if Modi had to returnwhy revenge is being taken on me the chief minister asked referring to the ED raids Punjab is scheduled to go to the polls on February 20 PTI CHSSUN AQS AQS