The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches across multiple locations in Punjab and Chandigarh on Thursday as part of a money laundering investigation into an alleged land fraud case. The raids targeted premises linked to project developers, their associates, and an individual reportedly close to an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the searches, authorized under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), encompassed approximately a dozen sites in Mohali and Chandigarh. These locations are associated with entities including Suntec City project, Ajay Sehgal, ABS Townships, Altus Builders, and Dhir Constructions.
Among those being searched is Nitin Gohal, an IT professional who officials allege aided builders in defaulting on payments to the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA). Gohal is also accused of arranging political protection for these builders. ED officials stated that Gohal has links to Rajbir Ghuman, the OSD to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
The individuals under investigation are accused of fraud in obtaining Change of Land Use (CLU) licenses from GMADA and subsequently defrauding the public. Authorities claim that the accused collected crores of rupees from investors.
In a significant development during the raids in Mohali, cash was reportedly seen being flung from a high-rise building. The ED is working to ascertain the total value of the cash. Sources indicated the incident occurred in Mohali’s Kharar area, where two bags containing Rs 500 denomination notes were found on the ground, suggesting they were thrown from a residential society flat during the ED operation.
Scattered bundles of cash were also observed on the ground of the residential society. A video capturing bags of cash lying on the ground circulated widely on social media. ED sleuths reportedly carried out a raid at a flat located in Western Towers in Kharar in connection with this incident.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia commented on the cash seizure via X, formerly Twitter. He alleged that the money belonged to OSD CM Mann, Rajbir Singh, and referred to the individuals as “Kattar Fraudsters.” Majithia stated that the ED raids targeted close aides and relatives of OSD Rajbir Ghumman, including Nitin and Veer Davinder.
Majithia further elaborated that crores of money were thrown from a 9th-floor apartment and were seen flying in the air following the ED raid on the OSD’s associates. He also alluded to the unearthing of hawala transactions, predicting a major expose soon.
The ED has intensified its actions against politically connected individuals in Punjab in recent weeks. Prior to this operation, the agency had raided the premises of Punjab Industries Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjeev Arora, his son, and AAP Rajya Sabha member Ashok Kumar Mittal in separate cases. Mittal recently joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) along with six other AAP MPs.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
