The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday conducted raids at a residential society near Kharar in Punjab’s Mohali district, where bags allegedly containing cash were reportedly thrown from a ninth-floor flat during the operation.
ED sources in Delhi said the raid was carried out at Flat No 906 in Western Towers, Chajju Majra. During the search operation, two bags allegedly containing cash bundles were reportedly thrown from the building premises.
ED sources further said 12 locations in Mohali and Chandigarh were raided including premises of several builders and housing projects as well as that of Nitin Gohal, reportedly close associate of an OSD to a senior government functionary.
The raids were conducted in connection with these entities and Gohal was allegedly involved in large scale fraud in obtaining change in land use (CLU) licences from Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) and cheating public to collect hundreds of crores.
According to ED sources, raids were conducted at premises of Suntec City project, it’s promoter Ajay Sehgal, as well as ABS Townships Pvt Ltd, Altus Builders, and Dhir Constructions. Nitin Gohal was being searched by ED as he allegedly helped builders who have defaulted in payment of GMADA fees. He reportedly arranged political protection for them, ED sources said.
Meanwhile, in Kharar, eyewitnesses claimed that bundles of Rs 500 currency notes were seen scattered on the ground floor area of the society shortly after the incident. Residents gathered at the spot as ED officials took possession of the cash bags.
Officials of the central agency were stated to be inside the flat for several hours, with the apartment reportedly locked from inside during the search proceedings.
The raids were reportedly part of a wider crackdown, with searches also being conducted in Patiala on the premises linked to people allegedly associated with the Aam Aadmi Party.
Raids in Chandigarh’s Sector 16
The Enforcement Directorate also carried out searches at multiple locations in Chandigarh as part of an ongoing investigation.
An ED team conducted a raid at a house in Sector 16, Chandigarh, sources said.
Simultaneously, another team searched the premises of Bir Devinder Singh alias Biru in Mohali. Sources claimed Biru is considered a close associate of a senior political functionary.
Officials have not yet disclosed details of the case linked to the searches or whether any recoveries have been made.
