Premises of a close associate of an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s Office was among over a dozen locations searched by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday in Chandigarh and Punjab as part of probe into money laundering in an alleged land fraud case.
The searches were carried out in Mohali and Chandigarh in premises linked to Suntec City project, Ajay Sehgal, ABS Townships, Altus Builders, Dhir Constructions and associates under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Key to the agency’s search was sleuths landing at the location of Nitin Gohal, an IT professional reportedly known to Rajbir Ghuman, the OSD to CM Mann, as per ED officials. Gohal is alleged to have “helped” builders who “defaulted” in payment of Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) fees and offered “political protection” for them, ED officials said.
The accused persons have been charged with fraud in obtaining CLU (change of land use) licences from GMADA and subsequently cheating the public. They are alleged to have collected funds worth crores of rupees from the investors, the officials said.
Cash in the air
Interestingly, ahead or during the searches, cash in bundles and bags was flung from a high-rise building in Mohali and it was found scattered on the ground. Viral videos of the same have been doing rounds on social media.
The incident has been reported from Mohali’s Kharar area, where sleuths raided a flat in Western Towers. Two bags stuffed with cash of ₹500 denomination were seen lying on the ground.
SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia went on X and said that “crores of money in ₹500 denomination [are] flying in the air. Money Belongs to whom – OSD CM Mann Rajbir Singh? ‘Kattar Fraudsters’ in ED trap. ED raids on CM Bhagwant Mann’s close aide OSD Rajbir’ Ghumman’s close aides and relatives – Nitin, Veer, Davinder.”
“ED raids Mohali high-rise linked to CM Mann’s aide; ₹500 notes fly around after bags thrown from 9th floor. Crores of money thrown out of 9th floor; crores of money flying in air after ED raided CM Mann’s close aide’s relatives. Hawala transactions unearthed. Major expose would land soon,” he added.
This is the latest in a series of action the ED has taken in Punjab over the last few weeks.
Published on May 7, 2026