Jalandhar, July 21 -- The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has seized Rs.1.75 crore in unaccounted cash during searches at 16 locations in Pathankot as part of an ongoing money laundering investigation into an alleged illegal mining and panchayat land scam involving 91.75 acres (734 kanal and one marla) of shamlat land situated near the International border.

The raids, conducted on July 16 under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), covered several premises, including the residence and office of Vijay Kumar Kataruchak, considered close to Punjab cabinet minister Lal Chand Kataruchak.

According to the ED, the investigation pertains to the alleged illegal excavation of sand and riverbed material from village common ...