The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) Saturday conducted searches at three premises linked to real estate developer and former Akali leader Ranjit Singh Gill in Chandigarh’s Sector 2, barely 12 hours after he was inducted into the BJP by Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini.ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW VIDEOGill and and the BJP strongly condemned the action, accusing the AAP government of indulging in “political vendetta”. The Vigilance Bureau, however, claimed to have uncovered details of suspicious financial transactions running into crores between Gillco Developers — the Mohali-based realty firm founded by Gill — and entities linked with Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia who is currently in jail after being arrested in a disproportionate assets case.Gill was the ‘halka in-charge’ of Kharar for the Akali Dal till he quit the party in July. He was widely tipped to join AAP, especially after ruling party’s Kharar MLA, Anmol Gagan Maan, announced her resignation and decision to quit politics on July 19. However, she took back her resignation the very next day.A senior vigilance official said that the searches at Gill’s residence was in furtherance of the investigations into an FIR (No. 22, dated June 25) registered at Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) Police Station Flying Squad, SAS Nagar, against Majithia. The official added that searches were carried out three premises linked to Gillco Developers in Punjab and Chandigarh.“During the searches, the Bureau uncovered details of suspicious financial transactions running into crores between Gillco Developers and entities linked with Majithia. Further investigations are ongoing,” the official said.Majithia was held on June 25. According to the FIR registered by the Vigilance Bureau, its preliminary investigation has revealed that more than Rs 540 crore worth of “drug money” was laundered in several ways and Majithia had allegedly facilitated it.The official added that after registration of FIR against Majithia, certain suspicious financial links and transactions between Gillco Developers and some of the entities had come to notice. “These were developed in a meticulous manner by conducting investigations. To conduct further in-depth inquiries into these transactions and to gather relevant evidence, the Vigilance Bureau conducted these searches in accordance with procedure established by law,” the official said.Story continues below this adBureau officials said several incriminating documents, electronic devices and other evidences have been seized in the ongoing searches. An official spokesperson said that the search operations were conducted strictly in accordance with the legal procedures and the search was still underway. “Electronic devices and relevant documents were also seized during the searches”, he added.Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd