Enforcement Directorate Raids in Punjab

Enforcement Directorate Raids in Punjab

VoM News Desk | March 27, 2024 | 01:56 PM IST | Breaking News, India, Punjab | Follow on Google News

Enforcement Directorate Raids in Punjab

Enforcement Directorate Raids in Punjab

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches at 26 locations across seven districts of Punjab, including the residence of Firozpur Deputy Commissioner Rajesh Dhiman, in connection with an alleged multi-crore guava orchard compensation scam.

The raids, carried out under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), stem from a case registered by the ED based on a Punjab Vigilance Bureau FIR. The case pertains to the embezzlement of nearly Rs 137 crore in compensation for guava orchards acquired by the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA).

Investigation Details & Background of the Scam

Sources indicate that the residences of senior government officials and private individuals are under scrutiny in the investigation. The Punjab Vigilance Bureau has already apprehended several individuals, including officials from the horticulture department, in connection with the scam.

The scam, exposed by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau last year, revolves around fraudulent activities primarily centered in Barakpur village. Officials from the horticulture and revenue departments, along with GMADA officers and private entities, are allegedly involved in collusion.

Modus Operandi

Individuals associated with the government and GMADA officers are accused of strategic land purchases and planting guava trees to inflate compensation amounts. Allegedly, they manipulated records to indicate tree planting in 2016 instead of the actual 2018 timeline, facilitating the extraction of crores in compensation.

One Bhupinder Singh is accused of receiving compensation through falsified records and collusion with horticulture department officials. The ED is now seeking access to case records to trace the flow of funds and uncover further details of the alleged scam.

VoM News Desk

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