Chandigarh, Feb 21: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted a search at the Mohali residence of Simran Preet Panesar, a suspect in Canada’s gold heist, valued at over USD 20 million. Official sources confirmed that Panesar, in his thirties, is under investigation in connection with the robbery, which took place at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport in April 2023.
The ED, which filed a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), initiated the investigation independently, without a request from Canadian authorities. This is allowed when the crime has cross-border implications, particularly if an Indian national is suspected to be involved.
Sources indicated that the ED is probing whether the “proceeds of crime” from the heist were transferred to India and whether anyone here benefited from the stolen goods. The cargo container containing gold bars was reportedly stolen from a secure storage facility at the airport using forged documents, according to media reports. The investigation is ongoing, and Panesar could face questioning during the search at his premises in Mohali.
