Chandigarh: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday morning conducted a raid at the residence of real estate businessman Praveen Kansal in Chandigarh’s Sector 20 in connection with an alleged land fraud case linked to New Chandigarh.
According to allegations, Kansal, also known as Rocky, was involved in a land-related fraud concerning a prime property in New Chandigarh. He is associated with the Zirakpur-based real estate project ‘Chandigarh Royal City’ and is considered close to senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader and former minister Sikander Singh Maluka.
The ED action follows a complaint filed in 2023 by Kansal’s business partner Pyare Lal Garg, who accused him of cheating and criminal conspiracy.
According to the complaint submitted to the Vigilance Bureau, Garg had invested money for the purchase of land at a prime location in New Chandigarh. He alleged that the accused later fraudulently changed the ownership of the land and got it transferred in their own names.
Garg further alleged that the fraud was carried out with the help of then-tehsildar Tarsem Lal, who allegedly misused his official position to facilitate fake land registry documents in favour of the accused.
Praveen Kansal is a director in Motiya Royal Estate Private Limited, where his wife and brother are also partners.
Based on the complaint, the Vigilance Bureau had registered a case under IPC Sections 420 (cheating) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy). Although the bureau reportedly confirmed irregularities during its initial investigation, no immediate action was taken at that time.
The case was reopened in 2025 following reports submitted by revenue officials, after which an FIR was registered again in June 2025. The ED is now probing the financial and money laundering aspects linked to the alleged fraud.
