The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) set out from New Delhi on Wednesday, guided by a September 18 directive from the Punjab and Haryana High Court that demanded a preliminary probe into rampant illegal mining in Hoshiarpur. The court’s order was a response to a petition filed by businessman Rahul Manchanda, represented by lawyer Saurav Bhatia, who accused state authorities of colluding with miners and failing to curb environmental damage.
A convoy of roughly ten vehicles arrived at Amro village in the Talwara area, where investigators reportedly searched for evidence of deep excavations—estimated at 100 to 110 feet—that have reportedly flattened hills. The team also visited the mining department’s office on Tanda Road in Hoshiarpur, though the agency has not released details of the material seized or any recoveries, and the department declined to comment.
This investigation marks the second time this year that the High Court has turned over a case on illegal mining to the CBI, amplifying scrutiny of Punjab’s mining regulatory framework ahead of the state assembly elections. The petition’s photographs, submitted alongside the legal filing, depict extensive ecological destruction and underline the court’s concern over possible state‑level complicity.
The CBI is slated to conduct a preliminary inquiry that will identify those responsible and recommend prosecution, with the court expecting a report before the next election cycle. The agency will release findings once the investigation is complete, a move that could precipitate criminal charges against officials tied to the illegal mining network.