ED Leadership Change in Jalandhar A Look at the Unit Handling Punjab’s Biggest Scams:

In a significant administrative move, the Central Government has transferred Ravi Tiwari, the Joint Director in charge of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office in Jalandhar.

The Jalandhar unit is considered a high-profile office as it handles several sensitive money laundering investigations related to drug smuggling, illegal mining, and political corruption in Punjab.

Key Details of the Transfer

The Officer: Ravi Tiwari, an officer of the 2004-batch (IRS), was serving as the Joint Director at the Jalandhar Zonal Office.

The New Posting: He has reportedly been moved to the ED headquarters in New Delhi.

Administrative Context: The transfer is being described as part of a routine reshuffle within the agency; however, the timing is notable as several investigations into prominent figures in Punjab are currently at critical stages.

The Role of the Jalandhar ED Office

Under Ravi Tiwari’s tenure, the Jalandhar office was actively pursuing several major cases:

Illegal Mining: Probes into the sand mining mafia and the involvement of various contractors.

Drug Money Laundering: Tracking the financial trails of international drug cartels operating out of Punjab.

Political Scrutiny: The office has been involved in questioning various political leaders across party lines regarding unaccounted wealth and foreign exchange violations.

What Happens Next?

A successor for the Jalandhar Joint Director post is expected to be announced shortly. Until then, a senior officer from the Chandigarh or Delhi zone may hold additional charge of the Jalandhar unit to ensure that ongoing high-stakes investigations are not hindered.