ED seizes Rs 3.89 crore in connection with Guava Orchard Compensation Scam

The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) in the city has confiscated Rs 3.89 crore during raids conducted on Wednesday, linked to the guava orchard compensation scam.
The raids targeted 26 residential and business premises across several cities, including Ferozepur, Mohali, Bathinda, Barnala, Patiala, and Chandigarh, under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Among the suspects implicated in the case are two IAS officers, Varun Roojam and Rajesh Dhiman, along with Dhiman’s wife, Jasmine Kaur. Officials from the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA), Revenue, and Horticulture Departments, as well as realtor Bhupinder Singh, and others, are also under scrutiny.

During the search operations, the ED uncovered various incriminating pieces of evidence, property documents, and mobile phones. The ED’s investigation was initiated following an FIR filed by the Vigilance Bureau, Mohali, under various sections of the IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act.

The probe revealed that in 2016, GMADA had commenced land acquisition for the Aerotropolis residential project near the IT city and Aerocity in Mohali. It was discovered that private individuals associated with GMADA, Revenue, and Horticulture Departments were aware of separate compensation assessments for fruit-bearing guava trees. These individuals, in collusion with officials, fabricated records regarding the existence, age, quality, and density of guava trees to illegitimately obtain compensation.

The total proceeds of the identified crime amount to approximately Rs 140 crore, according to ED findings.