6 hrs ago
ED Again Seeks Punjab FIR Over Alleged Land-Use Scam
The Enforcement Directorate is investigating an alleged land-use and money-laundering scam in Punjab.
It has asked the Punjab police three times to officially register a criminal case.
The agency says private people and senior government officials may have been involved.
The investigation includes searches of several people’s premises.
The Punjab police had asked the ED for clearer documents.
The ED has now supplied legible copies and additional paperwork.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court is examining what the police and state government plan to do.
The ED says registering the case quickly could help protect evidence.
The Enforcement Directorate has for a third time asked Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav to register an FIR against private individuals and senior state officials.
The request follows searches conducted from May 7 to May 10 in a money-laundering probe linked to an alleged multi-crore land and Change of Land Use fraud.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has sought the ED’s communications to the DGP and the Punjab government’s position on the allegations.
The ED submitted a 200-page reply to the High Court, including more than 150 pages of WhatsApp chats.
The agency provided legible documents and a certificate, warning that delays could lead to destruction or tampering of evidence.
- Who
- The Enforcement Directorate, Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav, private individuals, senior Punjab government officials, Punjab Police, and the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
- What
- The ED has again requested registration of an FIR over alleged corruption, land-use manipulation, and money laundering.
- Where
- Punjab and the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
- When
- The ED’s third letter was dated August 31; the High Court listed the matter for September 3, 2026.
- Why
- The ED says the material indicates possible legal violations and that delay could result in evidence being destroyed or tampered with.
Enforcement Directorate
Punjab Police and State Government
FIR registration
Enforcement Directorate
The ED says the information and material already supplied are sufficient for immediate FIR registration and that Section 66(2) requires it to share such information with the concerned agency.
Punjab Police and State Government
The Punjab Police sought further details from the ED, saying the documents and transcripts previously provided were not legible.
Urgency and evidence
Enforcement Directorate
The ED says any delay could allow evidence to be destroyed or tampered with and has requested a copy of the FIR before the next High Court hearing.
Punjab Police and State Government
The state’s final position and proposed action were not stated in the article; the High Court asked the Punjab government to clarify them.
Alleged corruption
Enforcement Directorate
The ED’s action concerns alleged corruption, money laundering, and manipulation involving private persons and senior state officials.
Punjab Police and State Government
The allegations were made in a public-interest petition and remain allegations; the High Court said the claims required a careful response.
Key facts
- Agency seeking FIR
- Enforcement Directorate
- Recipient of request
- Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav
- Number of requests
- This was the ED’s third request for FIR registration.
- Search dates
- May 7 to May 10
- Investigation link
- An alleged multi-crore land and Change of Land Use fraud connected to the Rs. 348 crore Suntec City money-laundering case.
- High Court reply
- 200 pages, including more than 150 pages of WhatsApp chats.
- Legal provision cited
- Section 66(2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.
Quotes
Punjab and Haryana High Court Division Bench
Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Rohit Kapoor
“Before we proceed to take cognizance of the grievance raised…it would be appropriate to call upon the counsel representing ED, to place before the court the communications sent to the DGP…as is alleged by the petitioner. If such communication is sent, we would also like to know from the Advocate-General, Punjab, as to what stand/action is proposed to be taken by the State police and the State itself”
indianexpress.com
“It is requested that the FIR may kindly be registered forthwith on the basis of the information and material already provided, as now supplemented with legible copies and the requisite certificate, and a copy of the FIR so registered may be furnished to this office at the earliest, in any case before the next date of hearing i.e. September 3, 2026 fixed in CWP-PIL-238-2026”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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