The ED has raided the Chandigarh premises of 32-year-old Simranpreet Panesar, former Air Canada manager, wanted in the biggest gold theft in Canadian history. It is learned that teams had reached his Sector-79 residence since morning. After this, he is being questioned.
Panesar’s wife Preeti Panesar is also a former Miss India Uganda, singer and actress. The ED has taken this action under section 2(1)(RA) of PMLA. Cross-border cases are dealt with under this section.
That is, any conduct done by a person at a place outside India which constitutes a crime at that place and which constitutes an offense specified in Part A, Part B or Part C of the Schedule. If it had been done in India.
This case is from 2023
This gold theft took place in April 2023, in which 6,600 gold bars, weighing a total of 400 kg, and foreign currencies worth about $2.5 million were stolen from the cargo complex of Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. The incident took place when luggage was being unloaded from a flight from Zurich.
Simranpreet, who lived in Brampton, Ontario at the time, left Canada and went to India after the robbery. However, in June 2024, news came through his lawyers that he would surrender, but this did not happen. Peel Regional Police is investigating the matter as Project 24 Carat.
20 officers are investigating the case
According to Peel Regional Police documents, 20 officers are investigating the matter and it has been more than a year. During this time they did things like tracking, interviews and CCTV investigation. In which the truck was also tracked. According to the investigation, this is the same truck in which gold bars were taken out from the cargo terminal.
Simranpreet’s lawyer promises to return to Canada
Simranpreet’s lawyer Greg Lafontaine said in June 2024 that he has full faith in the Canadian justice system and is preparing to return to Canada to prove his innocence. So far 9 people have been charged in this case, some of whom are accused of theft, conspiracy and possession of property obtained by crime.
At the same time, the Peel Regional Police is still investigating the matter and is waiting for Simranpreet Singh to surrender.
