AAP, Centre clash over ED action in Mohali

The Enforcement Directorate conducted raids at the Punjab government's Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) headquarters earlier this week, with operations continuing for more than 50 hours. The ED's money-laundering probe, initially linked to a private infrastructure company, expanded to scrutinize GMADA's land deals and alleged potential loss of several thousand crore, with AAP leaders coming under the central agency's scanner.

During the search and survey operation that began Tuesday and ended Thursday, ED personnel questioned eight senior GMADA officials, cloned their mobile phones, and scanned computers, servers, and official records. The agency seized electronic devices and documents as part of wider operations at multiple locations in Delhi, Mohali, Chandigarh, Panchkula, and Ludhiana connected to investigations into Tirupati Infra Projects. The AAP government approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court alleging that its officials were being detained, though officials later told a court-appointed warrant officer they had not been illegally detained or pressured.

The ruling AAP has rejected the allegations as "baseless" and "politically-motivated," accusing the BJP-led Centre of weaponizing its agencies against the Bhagwant Mann-led government ahead of state Assembly elections. AAP workers protested outside the GMADA office, raising slogans against PM Narendra Modi for allegedly misusing the ED to deter political opponents.