MOHALI / CHANDIGARH — A massive 48-hour search operation conducted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) across multiple locations linked to the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) and several high-profile bureaucrats and political aides concluded on Thursday.
Investigators from the central agency departed the GMADA headquarters in Phase-8, Mohali, in a convoy of five to six vehicles, carting away trunk-loads of official records, digital drives, and seized documents. The conclusion of the search permitted senior bureaucrats—including the Principal Secretary (Housing), GMADA Chief Administrator, Additional Chief Administrator, Chief Engineer, and multiple Executive Officers—to return to their residences after being confined to the premises for nearly two straight days.
Multi-Location Sweep Across Tricity and Punjab
The synchronized crackdown commenced early Tuesday morning under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Heavily guarded by central paramilitary personnel, ED teams sealed off three entire floors of the GMADA headquarters to scrutinize land allocation registries, file movements, and digital correspondence.
Simultaneously, the agency conducted coordinated raids at several residential properties:
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Senior Bureaucracy: The Sector-19 residence of senior Punjab IAS officer Rajiv Gupta (former GMADA Chief Administrator) was subjected to extensive searches. Sources close to the agency indicated that investigators reportedly recovered approximately ₹2.5 crore in unaccounted cash, over 1.25 kg of gold and silver, and several land deeds. However, the agency has yet to formally verify these figures in an official seizure memo.
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Political Circles: Operations expanded to Ludhiana, where teams searched the Sahnewal residence of Gurpreet Singh, the nephew of Punjab Cabinet Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian.
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VIP Quarters: ED officials also visited a government residence linked to former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain in Sector-39, Chandigarh, during late-night proceedings on Wednesday.
Focus of the Investigation
The extensive probe stems from allegations of large-scale financial irregularities, illicit land pooling benefits, and undue favors granted to private real estate developers. Investigators are probing concessions, waivers on External Development Charges (EDC), preferential site allotments, and arbitrary changes in land use (CLU) across thousands of acres in Mohali and New Chandigarh, which reportedly caused massive losses to the state exchequer.
State Moves High Court; Warrant Officer Dispatched
The agency’s lock-in of administrative offices and the round-the-clock detention of senior government functionaries triggered swift pushback from the Punjab government, which approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking urgent intervention.
Taking cognizance of the plea, the High Court appointed a warrant officer to inspect the raid sites, evaluate the ground situation, and ensure legal protocols regarding the confinement and examination of officials were adhered to. The warrant officer was empowered to enter the premises unannounced and submit a factual report to the bench.
While administrative operations at the GMADA headquarters are expected to normalize gradually, the ED is currently analyzing the impounded financial registries and digital evidence. A formal statement detailing official seizures is expected in the coming days as the investigation unfolds.
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