The Enforcement Directorate’s ongoing searches at the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) office have triggered a sharp political confrontation between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab government and the BJP-led Centre, with AAP leaders staging a protest outside the GMADA premises.
The Punjab government has also approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking urgent judicial intervention over the ED operation.
The Punjab government has also approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking urgent judicial intervention over the ED operation. The officer has been authorised to visit the search site at any time. The ED searches at GMADA have continued for a second day as part of a wider money-laundering investigation involving alleged irregularities in land acquisition, change of land use and compensation payments. Searches have also been conducted at locations linked to AAP leader Satyendar Jain, officials and the relative of Punjab minister Hardeep Singh Mundian. He alleged that central agencies were being used when the BJP had no political answer in Punjab. State finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema also alleged that ED raids had intensified as the elections approach. Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia also entered the political debate, questioning the Punjab government’s handling of the ED action and raising questions over the circumstances surrounding the GMADA searches.
The court has appointed a Warrant Officer to monitor the search and seizure proceedings and submit a status report by 2 pm.
Punjab AAP leader Balbir Singh alleged on X that “elections are coming and raids have started”, claiming that AAP leaders, workers and government officials were being targeted. He questioned the use of central agencies and said Punjab would not be intimidated by such action.
