Drug Dealer and Wife Convicted in Major Money-Laundering Case

A special PMLA court has sentenced Punjab-based drug dealer Ranjit Singh Kandola and his wife Rajwant Kaur on money-laundering charges. Kandola received a nine-year prison sentence while his wife was sentenced to three years. The couple was also fined Rs 1 lakh each. The case originated from multiple police complaints in 2012.

A special court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) has convicted Ranjit Singh Kandola, a known drug dealer from Punjab, and his wife on charges of money laundering in a narcotics case. Officials announced the verdict on Tuesday.

Kandola, also known as Raja Kandola, has been sentenced to nine years in prison. His wife, Rajwant Kaur, will serve a three-year jail term. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on each of them.

The 2012 case against Kandola stemmed from six Punjab Police complaints, including a significant drug bust worth Rs 200 crore in June 2012. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) alleged Kandola ran a syndicate trafficking in narcotics and manufacturing 'Ice' (a party drug) from methamphetamine and ephedrine. They also claimed he was involved in smuggling heroin from Pakistan. The ED had previously seized assets worth Rs 7.53 crore connected to Kandola's illegal activities.

(With inputs from agencies.)