The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached assets worth ₹9.87 crore in the Mohali guava orchard scam. The Jalandhar Zonal Office took action against Vikas Bhandari, his wife Ritika Bhandari, Bhupinder Singh, Karam Singh, and Gurdeep Singh.
The ED acted on an FIR registered by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau. Investigators found that private individuals colluded with revenue and horticulture officials to cheat the system. They falsely claimed higher compensation from the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) during land acquisition for the Aerotropolis Project.
The accused showed guava orchards on the land that did not exist. They also inflated the number of trees and manipulated their age to raise the payout. Fake revenue records and favourable inspection reports helped strengthen these false claims.
Through these fraudulent practices, the accused collected crores in illegal gains. The ED said that the provisional attachment of assets is a major step in the case. More action is expected as the investigation continues.
