The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Jalandhar has filed a supplementary prosecution complaint against former Punjab Forest Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot and four others under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The complaint was filed on August 22nd 2025, before the Special Court (PMLA), Mohali.

Notably ED had earlier filed its first prosecution complaint against Dharamsot on March 13th 2024, in which charges have already been framed by the Special Judge (PMLA). The investigation was initiated on the basis of FIRs registered by the Vigilance Bureau (VB), Punjab, under the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act in connection with multiple irregularities in the functioning of the Punjab Forest Department.

According to a statement released by ED, "The probe revealed that during his tenure as Forest Minister, Dharamsot allegedly demanded and accepted substantial bribes in return for permits to fell Khair trees, effecting transfers and postings of officials, and issuing No Objection Certificates (NOCs). Investigators established that he acquired proceeds of crime worth ₹1.77 crore through these practices. Further investigation into disproportionate assets revealed that Dharamsot had acquired additional proceeds of crime worth ₹6.34 crore. A prosecution complaint in this regard was filed before the Special Judge (PMLA) on March 14, 2024"

The ED statement also pointed out that Sukhwinder Singh, Range Forest Officer, and Mohinderpal Singh, Block Officer, embezzled government funds of ₹53.64 lakh allocated under the Compensatory Afforestation Scheme for procurement of tree guards. The investigation revealed that no procurement was made, and instead, funds were diverted into the accounts of casual workers and their families before being withdrawn in cash. Assets worth ₹53.64 lakh belonging to Sukhwinder Singh had already been provisionally attached. During initial probe of ED, searches were conducted at multiple premises on November 30th 2023 and Dharamsot was arrested on January 15th 2024, under the PMLA. 

The ED confirmed that further investigation in the matter is currently underway.

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