ED raids spark political storm in Punjab; Oppn alleges 'massive corruption network' under AAP govt

CHANDIGARH: The Enforcement Directorate (ED)'s raids at multiple locations linked to builders and associates in Mohali and Chandigarh on Thursday triggered a fresh political storm in Punjab, with Leader of Opposition (LoP) Partap Singh Bajwa and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia accusing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of running a "massive corruption network" in the state.

The ED conducted searches at around 12 locations linked to the Suntec City project and several builders, including Ajay Sehgal, ABS Townships Pvt Ltd, Altus Builders, Dhir Constructions and their associates, in connection with alleged large-scale fraud in obtaining Change of Land Use (CLU) licences from the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) and allegedly cheating the public of hundreds of crores of rupees.

The raids also reportedly covered premises linked to Nitin Gohal, who is alleged to have acted as a liaison between builders and the Punjab government. He is accused of helping builders' default on GMADA dues while arranging political protection for them.

Gohal is also said to be closely associated with Rajbir Guhman, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

Reacting to the ED's action, Punjab LoP Bajwa claimed that the raids vindicated the allegations repeatedly raised by the Congress 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 (Mann), who is his frontman in the whole of Punjab. His close associates, who are doing fraudulent business across the border, have now been raided," Bajwa told IANS.

In a sharp attack on the Punjab dispensation, the LoP alleged that the raids had exposed the "real face" of the AAP government.

"This is the first time I have seen something like this outside Hindi movies, where bags full of Rs 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 said.