Saturday, March 29, 2025
On Wednesday, July 9, 2025, India’s Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted surprise raids at the residences of several farmer leaders in Punjab, including Sukh Gill, the state president of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Toteval) faction. The action has sent shockwaves through activist circles, although ED officials have not yet disclosed the exact charges or case details behind the enforcement action.
According to media reports, Sukh Gill hails from Tota Singh Wala village in Moga district, Punjab. His early career saw him as a stage dancer in orchestras and wedding functions, followed by minor roles in low-budget Punjabi films.
By 2016, Gill transitioned into local journalism, conducting interviews with politicians for TV and online platforms. Around the same time, he held a post within the Moga unit of the Shiromani Akali Dal. Today, he serves as the Punjab state chief of BKU (Toteval).
The ED’s move appears to be connected to an immigration fraud case filed against Gill. According to a complaint by Jaswinder Singh, a 21-year-old recently deported from the United States, Gill allegedly took ₹45 lakh from him under the pretense of facilitating his immigration. Singh is reportedly among 127 Punjabis who were recently deported from the US.
A criminal complaint has been filed by Punjab Police, but further investigation is ongoing. ED’s involvement may suggest possible violations under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) or links to hawala networks.
The timing of the ED raids, which coincide with the Bharat Bandh led by trade unions and supported by farmer bodies, has raised eyebrows. Farmer leaders argue the raids are politically motivated, aiming to intimidate activists ahead of planned protests.
Meanwhile, BKU (Toteval) has yet to issue an official statement, though insiders say the leadership views the raids as an attempt to delegitimize the farmers’ movement.
