Mohali: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) reportedly conducted a raid at the office of the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) on Tuesday. According to sources, ED teams arrived in three vehicles, with teams from Jalandhar, Chandigarh and Delhi involved in the action.
The ED teams began searches at the office and are examining documents related to the case. No official statement has so far been issued by the agency regarding the action.
The ED has been investigating an alleged ₹150-crore Change of Land Use (CLU) scam and fee default involving several projects in the Greater Mohali area, including Sunteck City in New Chandigarh. The agency had earlier conducted raids at the premises of two builders in connection with the projects. The latest action is believed to be linked to the same case.
IAS officer Kanwalpreet Brar questioned
IAS officer Kanwalpreet Brar was questioned by the ED on August 18 and August 27. Reports said she was questioned for around eight to nine hours on August 18. Brar had earlier served as director of the Town and Country Planning Department.
Former chief secretary Anurag Verma appeared before ED
Former Punjab chief secretary Anurag Verma appeared before the ED at its Jalandhar zonal office on September 9. According to reports, he was questioned for more than eight hours. At the time, Verma was heading the Housing and Urban Development Department.
Mohali SSP summoned
The ED also issued a summons to the Mohali SSP on September 10, seeking records and information related to the investigation.
ED has been probing GMADA projects for four months
The ED’s scrutiny of GMADA projects has reportedly been continuing for around four months. Earlier, on May 7, the agency raided flat number 906 at Western Towers Society in Kharar, Mohali.
During that operation, two bags reportedly filled with cash were thrown from the ninth floor of the flat, scattering ₹500 notes below. Around ₹21 lakh in cash was subsequently reported to have been recovered.
Action linked to 12 locations
The earlier operation was reportedly part of searches at around 12 locations in Mohali and Chandigarh in connection with an alleged money-laundering case linked to the Sunteck City project and the CLU matter.
The flat was reportedly linked to Nitin Goyal, also known as Nitin Kumar Gohil. The action had also triggered a political controversy after the name of Punjab minister Aman Arora was linked to the raid. The builder was described as being close to the minister, following which Arora addressed the allegations at a press conference.
