Punjab court convicts retired IAF officer, 80, and associate, 77, in 2008 cocaine money-laundering case

Mohali court convicts retired IAF officer, 80, and associate, 77, for money laundering in 2008 cocaine case.

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Special Judge Hardip Singh of a Mohali court in Punjab convicted 80-year-old retired Indian Air Force junior warrant officer Dara Singh and his 77-year-old associate Gurdarshan Singh on September 3, 2025, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), sentencing each to three years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of ₹5,000. ^[1] In August 2008, the SAS Nagar police booked Dara Singh and Gurdarshan Singh for possessing 1.23 kg of cocaine worth ₹50 lakh at the time, and also seized two bank cheques worth ₹10 lakh that Dara Singh gave to Gurdarshan Singh to purchase the contraband. ^[2] The court ruled that the two bank cheques, being the outcome of dealings between the accused, are to be considered proceeds of crime, and discarded the defence's arguments. ^[3] The Enforcement Directorate booked Dara Singh and Gurdarshan Singh under the PMLA in October 2019 and filed a chargesheet against them in October 2022, classifying the drugs and the cheques as proceeds of crime. ^[4] Following the verdict, the two accused, who were on bail, were remanded to judicial custody. ^[5] The case originated from an FIR registered on August 28, 2008, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), following the seizure of 1.230 kilograms of cocaine from the accused. ^[6] The court imposed a fine of 5,000 rupees on each accused, Dara Singh and Gurdarshan Singh. ^[7]

What this stands on

Hindustan Times

In August 2008, the SAS Nagar police booked Dara Singh and Gurdarshan Singh for possessing 1.23 kg of cocaine worth ₹50 lakh at the time, and also seized two bank cheques worth ₹10 lakh that Dara Singh gave to Gurdarshan Singh to purchase the contraband. ·

Hindustan Times

The court ruled that the two bank cheques, being the outcome of dealings between the accused, are to be considered proceeds of crime, and discarded the defence's arguments. ·

Hindustan Times

The Enforcement Directorate booked Dara Singh and Gurdarshan Singh under the PMLA in October 2019 and filed a chargesheet against them in October 2022, classifying the drugs and the cheques as proceeds of crime. ·

Hindustan Times

Following the verdict, the two accused, who were on bail, were remanded to judicial custody. · Amar Ujala

The case originated from an FIR registered on August 28, 2008, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), following the seizure of 1.230 kilograms of cocaine from the accused. · Amar Ujala

The court imposed a fine of 5,000 rupees on each accused, Dara Singh and Gurdarshan Singh. · Amar Ujala

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