ED Raid in Punjab’s Pathankot: 16-Hour Search at Crusher Units, Offices & Properties

July 17, 2026

Pathankot: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) teams, which arrived in Pathankot, conducted searches for nearly 16 hours at five locations across the district. During the day, the ED raided the houses, offices and crusher units of two prominent stone crusher businessmen in Pathankot, besides the residence of a property dealer and former sarpanch in Taragarh.

During the operation, the teams examined documents related to financial transactions, import-export activities and land deals. Later in the night, an ED team reached Punjab Cabinet Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak’s native village, Kataruchak, where officials also searched the residence of one of the minister’s close associates. The team scrutinised records for nearly an hour. However, ED officials maintained silence before the media and did not clarify under which case the searches were being conducted.

ED Reaches Cabinet Minister’s Native Village

The ED also carried out searches in Cabinet Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak’s native village, Kataruchak.

CRPF Personnel Deployed Outside Search Locations

The operation was conducted under strict secrecy and security. During the searches, the stone crusher owners and their family members were not allowed to leave their homes. Similarly, no outsider was permitted to enter the premises or anyone inside was allowed to step out. CRPF personnel were deployed outside the residences and offices to maintain security.

The seriousness of the operation was evident as ED officials had both lunch and dinner brought from outside and continued the investigation inside the premises. The agency also searched the office of a stone crusher businessman located near Zone Hotel on Siyali Road.

When media personnel attempted to enter the office and seek information from the officials, they refused to comment and shut the office door. Women officers were also part of the investigation team.

Stone Crusher Businesses Remain Main Focus of Searches

The primary focus of the ED action remained two major stone crusher businessmen based on Siyali Road and Shah Colony in the city. In addition, searches were carried out at their stone crusher units located in Narot Jaimal Singh and Datial, where records were examined. The ED also searched the residence of a property dealer in Taragarh. According to reports, he was earlier associated with the Congress party and later joined the Aam Aadmi Party after the formation of the state government.

Questioning of Minister’s Associate Continues

After examining records and questioning a former AAP sarpanch in Taragarh, the ED team, accompanied by security personnel, reached Cabinet Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak’s village, Kataruchak, in the evening. Officials questioned a relative and close associate of the former sarpanch, who is also believed to be close to the Cabinet Minister. Both individuals are reportedly associated with the Aam Aadmi Party.

The entire operation was conducted with complete confidentiality. When Pathankot SSP Daljinder Singh Dhillon was contacted regarding the searches, he stated that the ED is a central investigating agency and that the local police had not been officially informed about the operation.