Full Breakdown
GMADA Raids Ignite Legal Battle and Political Showdown in Punjab
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On September 24 2026, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out a multi-city operation under the Prevention of Money-Laundering Act at the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) headquarters, the office of Principal Secretary Vikas Garg, and a Delhi-based realty firm. The raid, begun on September 22, sealed three floors, seized documents, hard-discs and mobile phones, and kept senior officials on site for up to 50 hours. Simultaneous searches hit the residence of Punjab minister Hardeep Singh Mundian’s nephew in Sahnewal and a government bungalow in Chandigarh linked to former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain.
Background & Context
The probe follows a CBI-filed FIR alleging a INR238 crore bank fraud by promoters of Tirupati Infraprojects Pvt Ltd. Investigators say the firm and related companies obtained land-acquisition waivers, change-of-land-use approvals and low reserve prices for GMADA’s unsold land, causing a loss that the agency estimates at nearly INR10 000 crore, with a separate INR57 crore waiver to Remigate.
Data & Statistics
- Search duration: ? 50 hours (over two days).
- Seized material: > 30 bags of documents and hard-discs; 150 mattresses for officials.
- Authorisations: seven survey warrants and seven search warrants dated September 22.
- Financial allegations: INR57 crore waiver to Remigate; potential loss of almost INR10 000 crore from reduced reserve prices.
Official Statements & Responses
Justice Sanjay Vashisht, hearing a late-night habeas-corpus petition, appointed senior registrar Rajan Nanda as warrant officer to inspect the premises. The officer’s report, submitted on September 24, recorded that senior officials—including Vikas Garg, Sandeep Rishi, Aman Gupta and Rohit Jindal—were not illegally detained, faced no undue pressure, and were allowed family contact and limited leave.
The ED’s press release claimed “unofficial meetings” between AAP leaders Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain and GMADA officials led to decisions on auctions, acquisitions and compensation “informally under Jain’s instructions,” and said seized phones contained chats about hawala payments to politicians.
AAP described the raid as a “daylight robbery” of Punjab records intended to disrupt state administration ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Detention claim – Punjab officials alleged illegal confinement of GMADA staff; the warrant officer’s findings deny unlawful detention.
- Meetings allegation – The ED says Sisodia and Jain held informal meetings influencing GMADA decisions; AAP denies any involvement.
- Evidence disclosed – The ED has not released the seized material or detailed findings, while AAP maintains that “nothing was recovered.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “The BJP is trying to fight elections through fear after failing to generate public enthusiasm at its rallies. Punjab is not a place where people can be intimidated through ED raids or threats. We are Punjabis and we are not afraid,” — Mr. Mundian
- “The reports claiming that Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain held meetings with Gmada officials are completely false, baseless and politically motivated,” — Satyendar Jain
What’s Next
The Punjab and Haryana High Court ordered the state to pay up to INR55 000 for the warrant officer’s appointment and authorized a revisit of the site. The ED indicated that examination of the seized documents will continue, and the state government signalled intent to pursue “all legal remedies” against any perceived misuse of central agencies.