ED attaches property worth Rs 9.87 crore in guava compensation scam

The ED investigation revealed that private persons in connivance with government officers availed wrongful compensation in lieu of guava orchards showed existing on land which was to be acquired by the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA), Punjab for setting up Aerotropolis Residential Project Near IT city in SAS Nagar, Mohali.

To get maximum compensation, guava trees were reportedly shown on the land where none existed. The accused showed higher density of trees, its age and other methods which would increase compensation amount.

The accused allegedly connived with revenue officials and horticulture development officers and forged revenue records and got favourable reports prepared. Through such criminal activities, accused persons generated and acquired proceeds of crime (POC) in crores of rupees, the probe said. It is further revealed that Bhandari, after receiving the wrongful compensation, diverted the crime proceeds to his wife Ritika Bhandari and his associates Bhupinder Singh, Karam Singh, and Gurdeep Singh. Accordingly, their properties in the form of immovable properties and stocks, have been attached provisionally. Further investigation is under progress.

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