Punjab Land Fraud, Money Laundering Raids

The India — Enforcement Directorate conducted raids in India — Punjab, India and Chandigarh as part of a money laundering probe against two realty groups, Singapore — Suntec City and Altus Space Builders, for alleged fraudulent change of land use and duping investors. Approximately Rs 1 crore in cash was seized, including Rs 21 lakh thrown from a high-rise building during a raid. The investigation targets individuals like Ajay Sehgal and Suresh Kumar Khanna, promoters of Singapore — Suntec City, who allegedly used fake consent letters to obtain Change of Land Use (CLU) and collected over Rs 150 crore from members without executing sale deeds. Nitin Gohal and Pritpal Singh Dhindsa are alleged middlemen who helped builders and arranged political protection. Amarinder Singh, promoter of Altus Space Builders, is accused of duping homebuyers and has been declared a proclaimed offender. Gaurav Dhir of Dhir Constructions allegedly undervalued the purchase of the Altus project. The case has political implications, with alleged links to Rajbir Ghuman, OSD to India — Punjab, India Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who denied government involvement. India — Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia criticized the India — Aam Aadmi Party, while Aman Arora, India — Punjab, India AAP unit president, accused the India — Bharatiya Janata Party of misusing central agencies.