ED nabs brother of US-jailed drug lord from Haldwani

Dehradun: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has apprehended Parmendra Singh Narula, brother of a notorious international drug trafficker incarcerated in a US penitentiary, during a predawn operation in Haldwani, Uttarakhand under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Parmendra was arrested following extensive raids spanning approximately 20 hours across his residences and offices across the city, ED officials said.He stands accused of aiding his brother, Banmeet Singh Narula, in laundering illicit proceeds.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, an ED official disclosed that Parmendra was instrumental in legitimising his brother’s illicit gains through investments in various enterprises. Banmeet, apprehended in London in 2019 and subsequently extradited to the US in 2023, was implicated in smuggling narcotics into America over a decade, amassing an estimated $150 million.
Parmendra managed a significant portion of these funds through accounts in Dubai, the US, and other countries.
The official added, “Banmeet received a five-year prison sentence in the US, coupled with an order to forfeit his $150 million. Acting on intelligence regarding Parmendra, the Enforcement Direcorate conducted raids yielding crucial documents. He was arraigned before a special ED court in Dehradun, which granted the agency a seven-day custody for investigation. Subsequent actions will hinge on fresh revelations.”