ED Action at GMADA Office: Senior Officials Questioned Over Land and CLU Records

Enforcement Directorate (ED) teams carried out a major search operation at the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) office in Phase 8, Mohali, on Tuesday. The operation was conducted in the presence of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel.
The sudden action by the central agency triggered activity in administrative circles as ED officials examined records at the GMADA office.
During the operation, the ED reportedly sealed at least three floors of the office and took the mobile phones of senior officials into its possession. Records related to the Remigate case and approvals allegedly granted to private builders for Change of Land Use (CLU) were also seized for examination.
Senior GMADA officials questioned
According to sources, senior GMADA officials, including the Estate Officer (EO), Additional Chief Administrator (ACA) and Chief Engineer, were called to the Housing Secretary's room. ED officials were reportedly questioning them continuously as part of the ongoing operation.
The agency is examining several aspects related to GMADA's functioning, according to officials familiar with the investigation. These include land acquisition matters, alleged undue benefits extended to private realtors and builders, CLU approvals and alleged irregularities and financial discrepancies in the auction of government properties.
Probe into CLU and fee-default cases
The ED has been investigating alleged irregularities involving builders and GMADA officials in the Mohali and New Chandigarh areas for the past several months.
The probe includes alleged CLU-related irregularities involving crores of rupees and cases concerning fee defaults. The agency's latest action at the GMADA office has brought renewed attention to the real estate sector in Mohali and the matters under investigation.
The operation was still underway when the report was filed. Further details about the records examined or the outcome of the questioning were awaited.