HC seeks Centre's reply on GMADA, Punjab’s challenge to ED search at PUDA Bhawan

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday sought a reply from the Centre on a petition filed by the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) and the State of Punjab challenging the Enforcement Directorate’s survey and search at PUDA Bhawan, Sector 62, Mohali, from September 22 to 24.

A Division Bench of Chief Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Rohit Kapoor also fixed October 28 as the next date of hearing on the petition against the Union of India, the Directorate of Enforcement and other respondents.

The Union of India was represented by senior advocate and Additional Solicitor-General Satya Pal Jain, while senior advocate Vikram Chaudhari appeared for the State.

The petitioners have alleged that the operation continued for about 50 hours, during which floors of the premises were sealed, more than 30 bags of records were taken away and mobile phones and other electronic devices of senior officers were copied or cloned. They have also alleged that the principal secretary and other senior officers remained on the premises for two nights.

The petitioners contend that the investigation was initiated on the basis of a CBI FIR relating to an alleged Rs 238-crore bank fraud “involving promoters of Tirupati Infra Projects Pvt Ltd, in which funds were siphoned off for personal benefits” but neither the petitioners nor any of its officers was named as an accused in that FIR.

The petitioners have sought the complete records relating to the survey and search, including the authorisations and reasons recorded for the action. They have also sought quashing of the survey and search authorisations, return of their records and electronic devices, and directions restraining the ED from accessing or using the data copied from them.

“The headquarters and offices of the Petitioners were occupied for about 50 hours, their floors sealed, their records carried away in more than 30 bags, their computers and the devices of their officers copied and cloned, and their senior officers kept in their offices night after night without any basis,” the petition said.

The petitioners added that the respondents abused their power and held officers in custody without lawful authority. They have further contended that officers responsible for such acts were liable for proceedings under Section 62 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) for "vexatious search and detention”.

They have also challenged the legality of the survey and search, contending “illegal and contrary to the mandate of law as no connection whatsoever can be established between the petitioners and the wrongdoings”.

The petitioners have argued that even if any transaction recorded in the files of the petitioners had a bearing on the investigation, the course prescribed by law would have been to call for those records. There was no justification in law for conducting the survey and search, they have contended.

Source: This report is based on information published by The Tribune on October 07, 2026.

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