With the arrest of Punjabi movie actor Mantej Mann in the 450-kg drug haul, the Enforcement Directorate ED) has also joined the investigation into the multi-crore racket. The agency, it is learnt, is looking into the economic aspects, including transactions and payment routes, of the case including any money laundering into the Punjabi film business. The investigation so far has revealed that a considerable chunk of the drug money was in fact pumped into a Punjabi movie.

AMRITSAR - The probe carried out in the drug seizure so far has revealed that a considerable chunk of the drug money was also pumped into a Punjabi movie.

The Enforcement Directorate is looking into economic aspects, including transactions and payment routes, of the case

With the arrest of Punjabi movie actor Mantej Mann in the 450-kg drug haul, the Enforcement Directorate ED) has also joined the investigation into the multi-crore racket. The agency, it is learnt, is looking into the economic aspects, including transactions and payment routes, of the case including money laundering into the Punjabi film business.

The investigation carried out so far has revealed that a considerable chunk of the drug money was in fact pumped into a Punjabi movie. However, officials of Special Task Force (STF) that unearthed the racket were tight-lipped about the development.

After the STF and Anti-Terrorist Squad of Gujarat, the ED is the third agency to be involved in the investigation. The ED has taken into its custody the report of the investigation carried out so far and FIR of the case.

Sources said Ankush Kapoor, a cloth trader who was kingpin of the gang, was also into modelling and wanted to star in a Punjabi movie. Therefore, he ventured into the illegal drug trade after coming in contact with Simrantji Singh Sandhu who was arrested by the Interpol in Italy.

“The directorate would investigate only the economic aspects. Several money exchangers, commission agents and traders are likely to be part of the racket,” the sources added.

Meanwhile, Sukhbir Singh Happy and Ankush Kapoor were produced in a court after the expiry of their police remand. The court sent them into three-day police custody.