States » NorthPosted at: Sep 24 2026 4:04PM


ED ends over 48-hour GMADA operation, seizes records in probe into alleged Rs 100-crore irregularities

Chandigarh, Sep 24 (UNI) India’s Enforcement Directorate has ended a more than 48-hour search and survey operation at the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) headquarters, taking away records as part of a money-laundering investigation into alleged irregularities involving private real estate companies and government land transactions.
The operation at the GMADA headquarters in Mohali, which began on Tuesday, ended on Thursday afternoon after ED officials examined official records and questioned senior officials, according to officials and people familiar with the proceedings.
The action formed part of searches and surveys conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) at 26 premises across Delhi, Mohali, Chandigarh, Panchkula and Ludhiana, targeting Tirupati Infraprojects Pvt Ltd and associated entities, according to the Enforcement Directorate.
The investigation covers the promoters, directors and associates of Tirupati Infraprojects as well as Remigate Buildestates (India) Pvt Ltd, MB Infrabuild Pvt Ltd, Mera Baba Reality Associates Pvt Ltd and Mera Baba Infrastructure Pvt Ltd. Surveys were also conducted at GMADA and Punjab’s Department of Housing and Urban Development to obtain records relating to transactions involving the companies.
The ED has alleged that promoters of Tirupati Infraprojects also controlled Remigate Buildestates and MB Infrabuild, which acquired two prime auction sites from GMADA in Mohali and subsequently received financial relief on dues payable to the authority.
The agency estimates the alleged undue benefit to the companies, and corresponding loss to the public exchequer, at more than Rs 100 crore. Investigators are examining issues including land acquisition, change-of-land-use approvals, property transactions and financial concessions allegedly granted to private developers.
Tirupati Infraprojects is separately facing CBI and ED proceedings linked to an alleged Rs 290-crore bank fraud involving the Radisson Blu hotel project at Paschim Vihar in New Delhi.
The prolonged operation triggered a confrontation between the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab and the federal agency, with the state government approaching the Punjab and Haryana High Court late on Wednesday, alleging that senior officials had been unlawfully confined during the searches.
Justice Sanjay Vashisth, hearing the matter late at night, directed the appointment of a warrant officer to inspect the GMADA premises and the office of Vikas Garg, Principal Secretary of Punjab’s Housing and Urban Development Department. The officer was asked to examine the situation and submit a report to the court by 2 p.m. on Thursday.
The warrant officer visited the GMADA headquarters in the early hours of Thursday and remained there for more than an hour before leaving at around 5:40 a.m.
The state had alleged before the court that senior IAS officers and other GMADA officials had not been allowed to return home since the operation began on September 22. The allegation has not been independently established, and the court-appointed officer was tasked with reporting on the situation.
AAP workers meanwhile staged a protest outside the GMADA headquarters on Thursday, raising slogans against the ED operation and attempting to move towards the offices where searches were underway. During a confrontation at the premises, a window of an ED vehicle was damaged.
AAP has accused the BJP-led central government of using investigative agencies to pressure the Punjab government, an allegation that has become part of the political dispute surrounding the searches.
“The BJP cannot stop the government’s work politically, so it is now trying to create pressure through central agencies,” AAP said in a statement, adding that action against GMADA was affecting the state government's ability to carry out development and welfare programmes.
The ED operation also extended beyond the GMADA headquarters. Investigators searched a government bungalow in Chandigarh’s Sector 39 being used by former Delhi minister and AAP leader Satyendar Jain as part of the wider investigation. Jain was not present when the ED team arrived, according to people familiar with the matter.
There was no immediate indication that the conclusion of the GMADA operation was linked to Thursday’s AAP protest. The searches ended after more than two days of examination of records, questioning of officials and the intervention of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
UNI NB ATP RSA
Tags: #ED ends over 48-hour GMADA operation# seizes records in probe into alleged Rs 100-crore irregularities
More News

Punjab CM Mann awaits Centre's nod for Japan visit to watch Asian Games hockey

24 Sep 2026 | 5:25 PM

Neeraj Bali
Chandigarh, Sep 24 (UNI) Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is awaiting the Centre's political clearance to travel to Japan for the Asian Games hockey knockouts, weeks before his state hosts a major continental hockey tournament, officials said on Thursday.

see more..

Rampur’s craftsmanship and flavours to take centre stage at UPITS

24 Sep 2026 | 5:13 PM

Rampur, Sep 24 (UNI) Rampur’s rich craftsmanship and distinctive cuisine will gain an international platform at the fourth edition of the Uttar Pradesh International Trade Show (UPITS) 2026, being held from September 25 to 29 at the India Expo Centre and Mart in Greater Noida.

see more..

Jammu DIG reviews railway security arrangements, contingency preparedness

24 Sep 2026 | 5:10 PM

Jammu, Sep 24 (UNI) Deputy Inspector General Jammu-Kathua, Shridhar Patil, on Thursday reviewed railway security arrangements and contingency preparedness in district Samba of Jammu and Kashmir.

see more..

UP: CPI (ML) calls allegation of gangrape against policemen in Amroha as shameful

24 Sep 2026 | 5:09 PM

Lucknow, Sep 24 (UNI) The CPI (ML) today described the alleged involvement of local police and CRPF personnel in the gangrape of a young woman in Hasanpur, Amroha, as a very serious and shameful incident and demanded a high-level and impartial investigation.

see more..

BJP re-appoints Dharampal Singh as organization's general secy of UP

24 Sep 2026 | 4:57 PM

Lucknow, Sep 24 (UNI) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has retained its trust in Dharampal Singh by re-appointing him as State General Secretary (Organisation) of Uttar Pradesh.

see more..