Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court will hear on Wednesday a petition filed by the Punjab government and the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) challenging the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) search and survey of the GMADA office in September.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Rohit Kapoor will hear the matter. The petition has been listed for urgent hearing.
According to the petition, the ED conducted searches and a survey at the GMADA office from September 22 to 24, lasting nearly 50 hours. More than 30 bags of official records were allegedly seized, while data from mobile phones and other electronic devices belonging to senior officials was copied.
The Punjab government has challenged the ED action, arguing that the investigation was reportedly initiated on the basis of a CBI FIR concerning an alleged ₹238 crore bank fraud linked to promoters of Tirupati Infra Projects Pvt Ltd.
The petition states that neither any Punjab government official nor any GMADA official has been named in the CBI case.
The government has sought cancellation of the authorisations for the search and survey and has also sought restrictions on the use of data copied by the ED.
The petition further raises objections to the alleged exercise of powers by the ED, including the alleged detention of senior officials during the proceedings.
The Union government, the ED and other parties have been made respondents in the petition. The high court’s hearing will determine the next course of proceedings in the matter.
