Guava 'scam': ED seizes over Rs 3 crore in cash during raids in Punjab

The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday said it seized Rs 3.89 crore in cash and "incriminating" documents during raids in several premises in Punjab, including that of two IAS officers, as part of a money laundering case liked to an alleged guava orchard compensation scam.

The central agency, however, did not clarify what was recovered from where.

The searches were launched on Wednesday and a total of 26 residential and business premises in Ferozepur, Mohali (SAS Nagar), Bathinda, Barnala, Patiala and Chandigarh were raided.

The premises of two IAS officers -- Punjab Excise Commissioner Varun Roojam and Ferozepur Deputy Commissioner Rajesh Dhiman -- were also searched apart from some revenue and horticulture department officials and private persons.

The money laundering case stems from an FIR of the Punjab Vigilance Bureau against alleged main accused Bhupinder Singh, Jasmine Kaur and others.

"During the search, incriminating evidence, property documents, mobile phones and cash worth Rs 3.89 crore were seized," the ED said in a statement.

The case pertains to 2016 when the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) initiated the process of acquiring land of various villages of SAS Nagar (Mohali) for setting up Aerotropolis Residential Project near IT City and an aerocity in the same district, it said.