ED team escorted out under Punjab police security; no GMADA official taken into custody

Mohali, 24 September (H.S.): The Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) nearly 36-hour-long raid at the headquarters of the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) ended at around 11:30 am on Thursday. After completing the operation, the ED team left the office carrying more than 30 bags containing seized documents and hard disks related to scanned records.

The ED had launched the operation at the GMADA office on Tuesday morning and examined records related to alleged irregularities involving land acquisition, change of land use (CLU) and private real estate companies. Although the agency has not yet issued a detailed official statement regarding the seized material, sources said investigators have obtained important documents for further examination.

On Thursday, a large number of Aam Aadmi Party leaders and workers gathered outside the GMADA office and raised slogans against the Centre and the BJP. The protesters alleged that the ED action was aimed at exerting political pressure on the Punjab Government and its officials ahead of the Assembly elections.

Due to the protest, the ED team was escorted out of the GMADA office under police security and taken up to the Chandigarh border.

According to sources, no GMADA official was taken into custody by the ED. Senior officials, including Punjab Housing Secretary Vikas Garg, returned to work after the operation concluded.

During the searches, the investigating agency questioned several senior GMADA officials and examined various files, mobile phones and digital records available at the office.

The investigation in the matter is still underway.

Hindusthan Samachar / GURSHARAN SINGH