Chandigarh, May 7
Punjab’s Mohali district witnessed dramatic scenes on Thursday after bags containing cash were reportedly thrown from the ninth floor of a residential building during an Enforcement Directorate (ED) raid linked to an alleged land fraud and money laundering investigation. The ED carried out searches across multiple locations in Punjab and Chandigarh under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), targeting builders, real estate firms and their associates accused of financial irregularities involving land use permissions and investor funds.Officials said searches were conducted at around a dozen locations linked to the Suntec City project, Ajay Sehgal, ABS Townships, Altus Builders, Dhir Constructions and their associates in Mohali and Chandigarh.
Officials said a man identified as Nitin Gohal was among those being searched. Investigators allege he helped certain builders who had defaulted on payments owed to the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) and arranged political protection for them. According to PTI report, ED officials, Gohal is linked to Rajbir Ghuman, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.Videos circulating on social media appeared to show bags being thrown from the upper floors of a building in Kharar shortly after ED teams arrived.
The ED investigation centres on allegations that developers fraudulently obtained change of land use (CLU) licences from GMADA and subsequently cheated investors after collecting crores of rupees for housing and real estate projects.
