BJP’s Ajayvir Lalpura seeks ED probe into illegal mining in Rupnagar, writes to Amit Shah
Babushahi Bureau
Ropar (Punjab), October 27, 2026: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rupnagar district president Ajayvir Singh Lalpura has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking an Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigation into alleged illegal mining, financial transactions and extortion in the district.
Addressing a press conference at the district BJP office on Tuesday, Lalpura also raised questions over video clips allegedly linked to Ropar Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Dinesh Chadha and called for an impartial investigation into the claims made in them.
Lalpura referred to three videos featuring a person identified as Kalu Saidpur, alleging that they contained claims about police pressure, the use of criminal cases to intimidate individuals and demands for advance payments for elections. These allegations have not been independently verified.
Challenging Chadha to respond through legal means if the claims were false, Lalpura said the MLA should file a defamation case against the person who made the allegations. He stressed that the facts should be established through an impartial inquiry.
Allegations of Illegal Mining and Extortion
Lalpura alleged that illegal mining was continuing in the Saidpur, Agampur, Algran and Plata areas of Rupnagar district. He claimed that he had information about alleged payments being collected from mining-related businesses, including charges calculated at ₹5 per square foot at certain locations.
He further alleged that some crusher units were being charged ₹7 lakh per month and certain screening plants ₹3.5 lakh per month. He demanded an investigation into these claims and said he would disclose the names of crusher owners allegedly involved in illegal mining.
The BJP leader also alleged that money was being collected through arrangements involving ruling party leaders in the Plata and Khera Kalmot areas. He warned that officials would also be named if evidence established their involvement in the alleged activities.
The allegations are yet to be established through an official investigation.
Lalpura Questions Previous Complaints
Lalpura said he had submitted a complaint to the Rupnagar Deputy Commissioner in 2025 regarding illegal mining but had not received a satisfactory response. He subsequently wrote to the then Punjab Chief Secretary, alleging administrative connivance in the activities.
He said he had also approached the Punjab Governor, the Union Home Minister and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
According to Lalpura, the Prime Minister’s Office forwarded a letter to the Punjab Government on March 3 for an inquiry, following which a local official was assigned responsibility for the investigation. He questioned the lack of a satisfactory resolution despite the passage of nearly one-and-a-half years.
The BJP leader also questioned former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi over the steps taken during his tenure to curb illegal mining, saying the investigation should examine the functioning of the entire system under successive governments rather than focus on one political party or individual.
Seeks Financial Probe by Enforcement Directorate
Lalpura said his latest communication to Union Home Minister Amit Shah sought an ED investigation into the alleged financial transactions linked to mining operations and extortion, along with the role of officials.
He demanded that the allegations be investigated impartially and that legal action be taken against anyone found guilty.
Those present at the press conference included Jagdish Chander Kajla, president of the Ropar Circle; Raman Jindal, district general secretary; Onkar Abiana, district Youth Wing president; Surinderpal Sethi; Gurkirat Singh; and others.