The Enforcement Directorate (ED) widened its scrutiny of GMADA planning decisions after alleging that reserve-price manipulation of unsold land could have caused a potential loss of nearly ₹10,000 crore to GMADA and the Punjab government; its note did not establish that the full loss occurred. A three-day raid at GMADA headquarters concluded Thursday.

The ED is examining GMADA’s January 2026 conversion of large commercial parcels in Sector 62 to mixed land use (MLU). A 27.78-acre parcel was auctioned in August for ₹1,742.31 crore. The change permits residential, retail, office and allied uses. In an e-auction, 27 of 36 properties fetched ₹5,391 crore against a combined ₹3,872-crore reserve price; officials said the change followed repeated failure to attract buyers for the commercial parcel.

GMADA also amended its Master Plan 2031 in January 2026, changing a 30-acre New Chandigarh parcel adjoining Eco City-1 from a truck/transport terminal to MLU, with a ₹1,311.18-crore reserve price.

The probe covers proposed land-use changes in 78 Kurali-area villages, including proposed green zones replacing some residential and industrial designations; objections have been filed. ED is also examining delays to Aerotropolis and Eco City-2 and 3. Aerotropolis received an LOI nearly five years ago, but work has not begun; substantial development on Eco City-2 and 3 is also awaited. No wrongdoing has been established.

The Enforcement Directorate questioned senior officials from GMADA’s planning, engineering and land acquisition departments, as well as Punjab Housing and Urban Development Principal Secretary Vikas Garg. It examined records on land allotments, auctioned properties, development approvals and concessions to developers, including Change of Land Use approvals linked to Suntec City and Altus Space Builders.

The agency searched the Chandigarh residence of former GMADA Chief Administrator Rajiv Kumar Gupta, who held the post in 2023 and was appointed in May 2023. The wider probe concerns alleged fraudulent landowner consent documents and financial irregularities involving Suntec City and other Mohali-New Chandigarh projects. GMADA cancelled the licence for the 108.58-acre Suntec City project in July 2024, citing the promoter’s failure to submit original landowner consent documents. The ED arrested Suntec City promoter Ajay Sehgal in May 2026. Its investigation into officials and private entities continues.

The Enforcement Directorate, accompanied by CRPF personnel, raided the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) headquarters on Tuesday, seized records related to the Remigate case and other alleged wrongful Change of Land Use (CLU) permissions, sealed at least three floors and took senior officials’ mobile phones. Searches were also conducted in Mohali, Chandigarh, Ludhiana and Delhi.

The probe covers land acquisitions, Rs 150-crore CLU cases, alleged benefits to private realtors, property auctions, corruption, and waivers of external development charges and interest payable by builders. GMADA’s estate officer, additional chief administrator and chief engineer were questioned; some officials may be taken into custody for further questioning.

The ED registered its PMLA case based on Punjab Police FIRs. The investigation includes alleged irregularities involving CLU permissions and unpaid dues in real estate projects, including Suntec City in New Chandigarh. The agency had previously searched two builders’ premises. No official ED statement had been issued.

Anurag Verma, a Punjab Revenue department official, was shifted from his position days after the Enforcement Directorate questioned him for more than eight hours as part of a money-laundering investigation into alleged irregularities in the Suntec City case.

Former Punjab chief secretary Anurag Verma appeared before Enforcement Directorate (ED) at its Jalandhar office on Wednesday in connection with money-laundering investigation into alleged irregularities in Suntec City project in Mohali. Verma reached the ED office around 11 am carrying documents and was questioned by the agency regarding administrative decisions and approvals relating to the project, including change-of-land-use (CLU) permissions and layout modifications. Verma, who earlier served as chief secretary-cum-administrative secretary, housing and urban development, is currently posted as additional chief secretary-cum-financial commissioner (revenue). ED had first asked him to appear on Aug 31; he sought additional time, and agency issued fresh summon for Sept 7, with appearance subsequently fixed for Sept 9. Another IAS officer Kanwar Preet Brar appeared before ED on Aug 18 and 27 in connection with the ongoing probe.