ED Busts Corrupt Drug Controller: Raids Reveal Bribes, Forgery, and Hidden Assets Across States
(Judicial Quest News Network)
Chandigarh, June 27, 2025: In a major crackdown on corruption and misuse of official position, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Chandigarh Zone, conducted extensive search operations on June 22 and 23, 2025, at seven residential, commercial, and government premises across Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab. The raids were linked to Nishant Sareen, currently serving as Assistant Drug Controller (ADC), Dharamshala, and his relatives and associates.
The investigation is being carried out under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and is based on an FIR registered by the State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (SV&ACB), Himachal Pradesh Police, under Section 11 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The FIR accused Nishant Sareen of abusing his official position for personal gain, corruption, and bribery during his earlier posting as ADC, Baddi, a key pharmaceutical hub.
Nishant Sareen was arrested by SV&ACB and later charge-sheeted alongside his associate Komal Khanna. Following his release on bail, he was transferred and posted as ADC, Dharamshala in September 2024.
Further deepening the scandal, another FIR was filed in 2022 by Haryana Police, accusing Nishant Sareen and Komal Khanna of forgery of partnership documents of Zhenia Pharmaceuticals, Panchkula. The alleged forgery involved inflating Khanna’s stake from 50% to 95%, coupled with intimidation tactics—again allegedly leveraging Sareen’s official position.
Key Seizures During ED Raids: Official documents including drug licenses, show cause notices, and pharmaceutical clearances Property documents and digital devices (laptops, mobile phones, pen drives) Two luxury vehicles valued at approximately ₹32 lakh Over 40 bank accounts/FDRs and 3 lockers belonging to Nishant Sareen and his family—frozen Over 60 bottles of unaccounted liquor found at Sareen’s residence in Omaxe Cassia, New Chandigarh
The ED is also probing fresh allegations of extortion against Sareen in his current role in Dharamshala. Additionally, the agency is examining a network of suspicious financial transactions between Sareen’s family members and various pharmaceutical companies.
Status: The investigation is ongoing, with ED intensifying its scrutiny of corruption, financial misappropriation, and regulatory manipulation by a senior drug control officer entrusted with safeguarding public health.
