ED raids in Mohali and Chandigarh trigger Punjab political storm
Synopsis
The ED's sweep across 12 locations in Mohali and Chandigarh — targeting builders allegedly linked to GMADA licence fraud and a close aide of CM Bhagwant Mann's OSD — has handed Punjab's opposition a political flashpoint. With Congress claiming ₹25,000–30,000 crore was siphoned and SAD alleging a three-pillar corruption network, the raids could reshape the state's political narrative ahead of future electoral cycles.
Key Takeaways
The Enforcement Directorate raided around 12 locations in Mohali and Chandigarh on 7 May 2025 , targeting builders linked to alleged GMADA CLU licence fraud .
Builders searched include Ajay Sehgal , ABS Townships Pvt Ltd , Altus Builders , and Dhir Constructions , in connection with the Suntec City project .
Nitin Gohal , allegedly linked to CM Mann's OSD Rajbir Guhman , is reportedly among those whose premises were searched.
Congress LoP Partap Singh Bajwa alleged nearly ₹25,000–30,000 crore was siphoned from Punjab over four years.
SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia alleged a three-pronged corruption network involving land deals, illegal mining, and the liquor trade under the AAP government.
The AAP government had not issued an official response at the time of publication.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday, 7 May conducted searches at around 12 locations across Mohali and Chandigarh, linked to builders and their associates in connection with alleged large-scale fraud involving Change of Land Use (CLU) licences issued by the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA). The raids immediately ignited a political storm in Punjab, with opposition leaders accusing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of running a "massive corruption network" in the state.
What the ED Raids Targeted
The searches were conducted in connection with the Suntec City project and several builders, including Ajay Sehgal, ABS Townships Pvt Ltd, Altus Builders, Dhir Constructions, and their associates. Investigators are probing alleged fraud in obtaining CLU licences from GMADA and the alleged cheating of the public of hundreds of crores of rupees.
The raids reportedly also covered premises linked to Nitin Gohal, who is alleged to have acted as a liaison between builders and the Punjab government — allegedly helping builders default on GMADA dues while arranging political protection. Gohal is also said to be closely associated with Rajbir Guhman, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. NationPress could not independently verify these claims at the time of publication.
Congress Calls It Vindication
Punjab Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa of the Indian National Congress (Congress) said the raids vindicated allegations his party had repeatedly raised against the AAP government. "We were saying this from the beginning. The ED raids conducted today are on the close aide of the Chief Minister, who is his frontman in the whole of Punjab," Bajwa told IANS.
Bajwa further alleged that the raids had exposed the "real face" of the AAP dispensation. "This is the first time I have seen something like this outside Hindi movies, where bags full of ₹500 notes are allegedly being dropped from one floor to another. This is not the face of a common man's party; this is corruption worth billions," he claimed. He also alleged that nearly ₹25,000–30,000 crore had been siphoned out of Punjab over the last four years and urged investigating agencies to trace the alleged money trail to countries including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United States, and nations in the European Union.
Akali Dal Targets Mann and Kejriwal
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia launched a separate attack on Chief Minister Mann and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, alleging they had been running a "large-scale loot system" in Punjab. "For a very long time, Bhagwant Mann and Kejriwal have been running a massive looting operation in Punjab," Majithia told IANS.
Majithia alleged three pillars underpinned the purported corruption network: land acquisition and real estate under GMADA and the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA), where he claimed farmland was acquired at low prices and handed to large developers in exchange for kickbacks; illegal mining on a large scale; and the liquor trade, which he alleged involved a partnership with a "notorious gangster" and certain businessmen. All these allegations are attributed to Majithia and have not been independently verified.
Background and Broader Context
This is not the first time the AAP government in Punjab has faced scrutiny from central agencies. The state has previously seen political controversy over an alleged excise scam and illegal mining, with opposition parties consistently demanding federal investigation. The ED's latest action comes amid a broader national pattern of the agency conducting searches tied to real estate and land-use irregularities across multiple states.
The AAP government in Punjab had not issued an official response to the raids at the time of publication. As the ED processes seized material from the 12 locations, further arrests or summonses are possible in the weeks ahead.
Point of View
Coordinated response suggests they have been waiting for exactly this kind of federal agency intervention to reinforce a narrative of AAP governance failure in Punjab. What is notable is that both Congress and the Akali Dal, rivals in their own right, are speaking from the same script: land, liquor, and mining as systemic corruption pillars. Whether the ED's investigation produces chargesheets or fizzles into prolonged proceedings will determine whether this is a genuine accountability moment or another chapter in India's well-worn pattern of politically timed raids. The AAP's silence so far is conspicuous — and its response, when it comes, will matter as much as the raids themselves.
NationPress
9 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the ED raid in Mohali and Chandigarh on 7 May 2025?
The Enforcement Directorate searched around 12 locations linked to builders and associates involved in the Suntec City project, including Ajay Sehgal, ABS Townships Pvt Ltd, Altus Builders, and Dhir Constructions. The raids relate to alleged fraud in obtaining CLU licences from GMADA and alleged cheating of the public of hundreds of crores of rupees.
Who is Nitin Gohal and why is he significant to the ED case?
Nitin Gohal is alleged to have acted as a liaison between builders and the Punjab government, reportedly helping builders default on GMADA dues while arranging political protection. He is also said to be closely associated with Rajbir Guhman, the Officer on Special Duty to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, making his alleged role politically significant.
What has the Congress said about the ED raids in Punjab?
Congress Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa said the raids vindicated his party's long-standing allegations against the AAP government. He claimed nearly ₹25,000–30,000 crore had been siphoned from Punjab and urged agencies to trace the alleged money trail to countries including Australia, Canada, and the United States.
What did SAD's Bikram Singh Majithia allege about AAP's corruption network?
Majithia alleged that the AAP government, under Bhagwant Mann and Arvind Kejriwal, ran a three-pillar corruption system involving land acquisition under GMADA and PUDA, large-scale illegal mining, and the liquor trade — the last allegedly involving a notorious gangster. These are his allegations and have not been independently verified.
Has the AAP government responded to the ED raids?
As of the time of publication, the AAP government in Punjab had not issued an official response to the ED raids. Further developments, including possible arrests or summonses, are expected as investigators process material seized from the 12 searched locations.
