Ex-naib tehsildar in Punjab arrested on money-laundering charges: ED

A former naib tehsildar working in the Punjab government has been arrested by the ED on money-laundering charges in a case linked to alleged fraud in the sale of village land in the state’s SAS Nagar district.

Varinder Pal Singh Dhoot was taken into custody on Thursday in a case “involving revenue officials and others for mis-allocating shares of ‘shamlat’ (panchayat) land of Seonk village in the said district to the tune of more than 99 acres in the name of ineligible villagers and in some instances, even outsiders,” the Enforcement Directorate (ED) said in a statement on Friday.

The federal agency alleged that Dhoot and some others “falsely” allotted the shares of the “shamlat” land in the name of six villagers.