Rs 137 Cr Misappropriated in Guava Orchards Compensation Scam in Punjab, ED Conducts Raids

Chandigarh: Officials of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday conducted raids at multiple locations in Punjab in connection with a money-laundering case linked to the alleged guava orchards compensation scam.

The ED took up the case taking cognizance of a Punjab Vigilance Bureau FIR pertaining to alleged embezzlement of nearly Rs 137 crore released as compensation for guava orchards on land acquired by the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA).

The ED is searching the premises of senior government officials and private persons in relation to the case.

The Punjab Vigilance had arrested 21 persons, including horticulture department officials, in this case.

In the guava orchard scam compensation worth Rs 137 crore was wrongfully claimed in lieu of the land acquired by the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) at Bakarpur village in Mohali.

There are around 100 beneficiaries involving nearly 200 acres of land. They received compensation on the basis of forged documents for the land acquired by GMADA at Bakarpur and adjoining villages between 2016 and 2020.