ED links Satyendra Jain, Sisodia to Mohali development authority land irregularities

The Enforcement Directorate has stated that AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain held regular unofficial meetings with GMADA (Greater Mohali Area Development Authority, involved in land development, land acquisition and land auctions) officials over master plans and site auctions, and that key decisions on fresh auctions, land acquisitions and compensation were informally made under Jain's instructions.

The ED has also alleged that reserve prices for GMADA's unsold land bank were fraudulently reduced before auctions, causing a loss of nearly Rs 10,000 crore to GMADA and the Punjab government while benefiting builders and politicians.

The agency conducted search and survey operations under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, at 26 premises across Delhi, Mohali, Chandigarh, Panchkula and Ludhiana. The action targeted promoters, directors and associates of several companies. Searches were also carried out at GMADA and the Punjab Department of Housing & Urban Development.

AAP has rejected the allegations against Sisodia and Satyendar Jain, calling them baseless.

As per the ED's findings, senior GMADA officials allegedly carried files outside PUDA Bhawan for informal meetings with Satyendar Jain and Amarender Jha at House No. 926, Sector 39, Chandigarh.

The property was officially allotted to Sunny Singh Ahluwalia, an AAP leader and chairman of the Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board. The ED alleges that the property was actually used by Satyendar Jain to influence GMADA affairs for personal gain and loss to the public exchequer.

The ED's note further alleges that Amarender Jha, described as an OSD to Satyendar Jain, informally held a room inside PUDA Bhawan despite having no official position there.

According to the agency, Jha allegedly issued instructions and influenced key GMADA decisions, purportedly for pecuniary benefit to politicians and private individuals.

The investigators also stated that phones seized from officers contained chats referring to hawala payments to relatives of Punjab government politicians.RESERVE PRICES OF UNSOLD LAND REDUCED

The ED has alleged that reserve prices for GMADA's unsold land bank were fraudulently engineered downward before the land was put up for auction.

According to the agency, the move caused a loss of nearly Rs 10,000 crore to GMADA and the Punjab government and benefited builders and politicians.

The ED's findings also include alleged irregularities in land acquisition awards and compensation under the 2013 Act.

The agency has alleged that GMADA illegally waived statutory dues in favour of Remigate, resulting in a pecuniary benefit of around Rs 57 crore. It also flagged the re-allotment of cancelled plots.ED SEARCHES 26 PREMISES

The Enforcement Directorate conducted search and survey operations under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, at 26 premises across Delhi, Mohali, Chandigarh, Panchkula and Ludhiana.

The action targeted promoters, directors and associates of Tirupati Infra Projects Pvt Ltd, Remigate Buildestates (India) Pvt Ltd, MB Infrabuild, Mera Baba Reality Associates and Mera Baba Infrastructure.

Surveys were also carried out at GMADA and the Punjab Department of Housing & Urban Development, which were later converted into searches.

The investigation originated from a CBI FIR alleging a Rs 238-crore bank fraud by Tirupati promoters Jagmohan Garg and Manmohan Garg, involving fund diversion.

Pre-search probes revealed cash transactions, bogus share premiums and links to other irregularities, including the NSEL scam, the alleged waiver of statutory dues by GMADA in favour of Remigate and the re-allotment of cancelled plots.

Information about alleged collusion by senior GMADA officials was shared with other agencies under Section 66(2) of the PMLA.SENIOR GMADA OFFICIALS AMONG THOSE COVERED

Key individuals covered by the investigation include senior IAS and PCS officers such as Principal Secretary Vikas Garg, Chief Administrator Sandeep Rishi, Additional Chief Administrator Amarinder Malhi, Land Acquisition Collector Rohit Jindal and former Chief Administrator Rajeev Gupta.

Further findings pointed to alleged irregularities in land acquisition awards and compensation under the 2013 Act, involving Tila Consultancy, controlled by Kirti Sadhu Bass and Archana Jha, which operated from GMADA and PUDA premises.advertisementPUNJAB GOVERNMENT MOVES HIGH COURTThe State of Punjab filed a late-night habeas corpus petition alleging illegal detention of officers.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court appointed a warrant officer, who visited the premises early on September 24, 2026, and reported that the officers were not illegally detained or pressured.

The petition was subsequently withdrawn and dismissed, with liberty to pursue other remedies.

The ED maintained that GMADA offices remained open for public access and normal functioning. It said officers were provided rest, food, medical facilities and family contact.AAP WORKERS PROTEST OUTSIDE GMADA OFFICE

AAP workers led a massive protest outside the GMADA office, with a few instances of violence and vandalism also reported.

Speaking to the media in Chandigarh, Punjab AAP in-charge Manish Sisodia said the ED officials should explain what they were doing.

"I don't know whose vehicles were damaged and whose were not. But if the people of Punjab are protesting, then the ED officials should explain what they were doing," Sisodia said.

He also said that at night, ED officials were ordering mattresses to sleep on and that in the morning, they ran away.

The AAP claimed that the Centre had unleashed agencies against the party ahead of polls in Punjab.advertisementAAP DENIES ALLEGATIONS AGAINST SISODIA, JAINThe AAP said reports claiming that Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain held meetings with GMADA officials were "completely false, baseless and politically motivated".

The party said neither Sisodia nor Satyendar Jain had any role in GMADA's projects, functioning or official matters.

According to the AAP, their role in Punjab is purely political and they have no involvement whatsoever in GMADA's day-to-day functioning or projects.

The party also claimed that the more than 50-hour ED raid had yielded nothing and alleged that the BJP was trying to manufacture a political narrative by planting false stories.

The AAP said the action was an attempt to create a controversy where none existed.- Ends

Kamaljit Sandhu is an award winning journalist working as Deputy Editor in India Today. She has nearly two decades of experience as a full time TV journalist. She covers "conflict" regions, Internal security matters, MEA and Parliament. Her work has often led to crisscrossing the country. She has also traveled to Pakistan and Iran, in pursuit of news stories. In 2019, she received the ENBA Award for best news programming for her ground report on "surviving Bastar" which was based on the government's policy on inducting tribals in Crpf in chattisgarh to counter naxals.

Personal interests: Kamaljit likes travelling, interior decoration and playing scrabble, Has varied interests in sporting activities like swimming, badminton and Yoga.

Amit Bhardwaj is among the “politics-election buff” journalists redefining how news connects with a younger audience. Currently an Associate Editor at India Today, he has built a reputation for incisive on-ground reporting right from centre of politics - the Indian Parliament, to the machine of politics- high-stakes Indian elections and to civil aviation sector. 

In the last eleven years, he has tracked India through a dozen state elections and consistently reported from the heart of India’s political churn, with a strong focus on the evolving dynamics of the opposition- INDIA bloc. He also tracks Aam Aadmi Party and Telugu Desam Party.

Known for blending easygoing storytelling with factual reportage, Amit Bhardwaj has delivered consistently from mines to skies. He has covered the rescue operations and rat miners in Joshimath. He extensively covered the tragic Air India 171 Ahmedabad crash in June 2025. His work on airline disruptions including the Indigo 2025 crisis, regulatory crackdowns, and aviation safety has added a distinct edge to his political reporting portfolio.   

Amit was amongst few India journalists to witness Nepal's GenZ revolution firsthand as it was unfolding on the streets of Kathmandu. His documentary "Joshimath: A Cry For Help" was awarded ENBA Gold for Best In-depth Series.  

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