Punjab News: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) launched searches at 26 locations across seven districts of Punjab on Wednesday as part of an investigation into an alleged money laundering case linked to a multi-crore guava orchard compensation scam.
Residences of Government Officials Targeted
The locations raided by the agency included the residence of Firozpur Deputy Commissioner Rajesh Dhiman, among others. The searches are being conducted under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The ED initiated the case based on a First Information Report (FIR) filed by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau regarding the suspected misappropriation of approximately Rs 137 crore allocated as compensation for guava orchards acquired by the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA).
Government Officials and Private Individuals Under Scrutiny
Sources have revealed that the investigation targets the residences of several senior government officials and private individuals suspected of involvement in the scam. The Punjab Vigilance Bureau has already apprehended numerous individuals, including officials from the horticulture department, in connection with the case.
The fraudulent activities mainly centered around Barakpur village, where the ED conducted raids. Investigations suggest collusion among officials from the horticulture and revenue departments, the GMADA, and private entities.
According to reports, individuals associated with the government and GMADA officers allegedly had prior knowledge of impending land acquisitions around 2016-17. They purportedly exploited this information to purchase land and plant guava trees strategically, aiming to inflate compensation amounts.
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