The Enforcement Directorate (ED), on Tuesday, conducted searches at seven premises of Malbros International Pvt. Ltd., a Punjab-based liquor company. The searches were part of a money laundering investigation linked to allegations of soil and groundwater contamination in Ferozepur district.
The company, owned and controlled by Deep Malhotra and Gautam Malhotra and their family, is part of the Oasis Group.
It has been alleged that the company's factory in Zira Tehsil contaminated the soil and groundwater by dumping industrial effluents and discharging them into the ground. This has caused pollution up to 4 km around the unit.
Following complaints from locals and farmers, and after the issue was raised in Parliament, the Central Pollution Control Board and Central Ground Water Board inspected the factory and found violations of environmental norms.
According to sources, the inspection report mentioned the "violation" of environmental norms by the factory on multiple grounds.
The Punjab Pollution Control Board later lodged a criminal complaint against the company for violating various provisions of the Water Prevention and Control of Pollution Act of 1974, they said.
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