ED reschedules Anurag Verma summons to September 9 in Mohali real estate probe
PTC Web Desk: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has changed the date of appearance for former Punjab Chief Secretary Anurag Verma in connection with an ongoing investigation. He was earlier asked to appear before the agency on Monday. However, the ED has now rescheduled his appearance to September 9, giving him two more days.
The change in the summons date was made by the ED on its own. The agency has also informed the IAS officer about the revised date through email.
Earlier, Anurag Verma had been summoned to appear before the ED on August 31. At that time, he had requested the agency to defer his appearance.
Also Read | Amritsar airport drone sighting mystery solved; police reveal why drones were flying
Before summoning Anurag Verma, the ED had also questioned senior IAS officer Kanwalpreet Brar in the same case. She was summoned twice, on August 18 and August 27, for questioning.
The investigation is linked to the approval of Change of Land Use (CLU) permissions and modifications made to the layout of the Suntec City housing project in Mohali. The ED is examining the circumstances surrounding these approvals and changes as part of its probe.
Officials deny any wrongdoing
The officials concerned have maintained that they have not violated any rules in the matter. They have also denied allegations of extending any undue benefit or favour to the builder involved in the project.
The ED's investigation is continuing, and further questioning is expected as the agency examines the approvals and decisions related to the housing project.
Background: What is the Suntec City case?
The Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) probe centres on alleged irregularities in the development approvals for the Suntec City and Altus Space Builders projects in Mohali. The case began after landowners of Palheri village raised complaints in 2020, alleging that their names and signatures had been used in consent documents for development without their permission.
A police investigation later examined allegations that forged signatures and thumb impressions were used to obtain Change of Land Use (CLU) approvals for about 108.58 acres of agricultural land for residential and commercial development. An FIR was registered at the Mullanpur police station in November 2022 against office-bearers of Indian Cooperative Housing Building Society Ltd. The ED subsequently registered a money-laundering case based on this underlying criminal investigation.
The agency is now examining the administrative and financial trail linked to the project approvals, including changes made to sanctioned layouts and the partial revocation of the Suntec City CLU. It is also looking into allegations that complaints about forged landowner consent documents were not acted upon and whether private developers gained any undue benefit.
The probe has expanded to related projects, including Altus Space Builders, with the ED alleging proceeds of crime of around Rs 348 crore. The agency filed a nearly 3,500-page prosecution complaint before the special PMLA court in Mohali in July. Realtor Ajay Sehgal, associated with the housing society, was arrested by the ED in May.
Former Punjab Chief Secretary Anurag Verma and IAS officer Kanwal Preet Brar have been questioned as the ED examines administrative decisions taken during their respective tenures.
- PTC NEWS
