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The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has arrested Nishant Sareen, assistant drug controller at the headquarters of the Directorate of Health and Safety Regulation, Himachal Pradesh October 9, under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 alleging his connection with an investigation related to corruption, forgery, cheating, accumulation of disproportionate assets and criminal conspiracy.
ED said that it has initiated investigation on the basis of First Information Report (FIR) registered by State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau, Himachal Pradesh Police under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, against Sareen, earlier when he was Assistant Drug Controller (ADC), Baddi. Subsequently, he was arrested by State Vigilance & Anti Corruption Bureau (SV&ACB), Himachal Pradesh Police and was charge-sheeted along with his associate Komal Khanna.
Another FIR was registered on October, 29, 2022 against Sareen and others by Panchkula Police, Haryana in a case related to alleged forgery of partnership deed of Zhenia Pharmaceuticals, Panchkula wherein it was alleged that Komal Khanna’s share in the said firm was increased from 50% to 95% through deceitful means and threat made by Nishant Sareen and Komal Khanna.
Besides, one more FIR was registered on September 23, 2025 under Section 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 by SV&ACB, Shimla against Sareen for accumulating assets disproportionate to his known sources of income to the tune of approximately Rs. 1.66 crore during the period from April 1, 2002 to August 21, 2019 while Sareen was posted as drug inspector/Assistant Drug Controller in the state of Himachal Pradesh.
ED, in a statement, said that its investigation has revealed that Sareen, while serving as a Drug Inspector and subsequently as an ADC in the Government of Himachal Pradesh has misused his official position for obtaining personal favours or bribes from various individuals in the management or ownership of pharmaceutical companies located within his jurisdiction in Himachal Pradesh.
As a result of these activities, Nishant Sareen has generated illicit proceeds derived from the commission of scheduled offences, including cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy under the Indian Penal Code, 1860, as well as offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and utilized the same for leading a luxurious life and for acquiring assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.
Earlier in this case, ED had also conducted search operations in the month of June and July 2025 in which two vehicles worth around Rs. 32 lakh, gold ornaments and jewellery worth around Rs. 65 lakh, 48 bank accounts and FDRs having a balance of Rs. 2.23 crore belonging to Sareen and entities related to him and his family members were seized or frozen.
Sareen was produced before the Hon’ble Special Court (PMLA), Shimla and the Hon’ble Court was pleased to grant his ED custody till October 14, 2025. Further investigation is under progress, added the ED.
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