Mohali : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday widened its scrutiny of alleged financial irregularities in the Mohali real estate sector, questioning senior officials at the GMADA office and conducting a search at the Chandigarh residence of former GMADA Chief Administrator and IAS officer Rajiv Gupta .




The ED continued its search at the GMADA headquarters for the second consecutive day, with Vikas Garg , Secretary, Housing and Urban Development, being questioned by the agency at the office. Several senior GMADA officials, including those associated with engineering and land acquisition, were also questioned during the operation.




Sources in ED also hinted of proceeding with arrested of one or two senior officers in the ongoing probe.




The agency is examining records relating to land allotments, auctioned properties, project approvals and financial concessions allegedly extended to private developers. The latest action is also being viewed in the context of the ED’s ongoing investigation into the Suntec City project in New Chandigarh .




Sources in ED said that the agency also searched the Chandigarh residence of Rajiv Gupta, who had earlier served as Chief Administrator of GMADA. The agency is understood to be examining decisions and records from the period when he held senior positions in the authority.




The questioning of serving officials and search at the residence of a former GMADA chief indicate that the agency is examining the decision-making process behind various land and development-related matters.




Sources said the ED is scrutinising transactions involving around 45 real estate companies and firms operating in Mohali and adjoining areas. These include Tirupati Infra Projects, Mera Baba Group, Remigate Group, Suntec City and MB Group, among others, said the sources.




The agency is examining property transactions, loans and movement of funds to determine whether money generated or raised through real estate activities was allegedly diverted or invested in other projects.




The probe is not confined to Mohali, with transactions and projects in areas stretching from Lalru to Kharar and Kurali also under examination.



BOX | Two GMADA auction sites in focus




A major part of the investigation centres on two sites auctioned by GMADA to companies linked to developers under scrutiny.




The ED is examining whether the companies had outstanding payments towards GMADA for several years and the circumstances in which interest, penalties or other dues were subsequently reduced or waived.




The agency is also looking into the sequence in which the files were processed, the role of officials involved in taking or approving the decisions and whether any concession caused financial loss to the authority.




The properties were reportedly acquired when land prices were considerably lower. The agency is examining their subsequent development and the decisions concerning pending dues after property values increased.



BOX | Suntec City angle under investigation




The latest searches come amid the ED’s continuing probe into the Suntec City project in New Chandigarh. The agency has been examining alleged irregularities involving the project, including land-use approvals, property transactions and dealings between private entities and government authorities.




During the GMADA search, ED officials examined records connected with projects and approvals. Several officials were questioned about files handled by their respective departments, while documents and electronic devices were also examined.




The agency is now looking into whether the transactions involving the GMADA sites and companies under scrutiny have any financial or operational link with the wider Suntec City investigation.




The ED has not publicly disclosed the complete details of the ongoing probe, and no finding of wrongdoing against any individual or company should be inferred merely from the searches or questioning.