AAP Calls ED Allegations Against Sisodia, Jain Over GMADA ‘Baseless’

The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab on Thursday rejected the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) claim that party leaders Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain held unofficial meetings with GMADA officials, calling the allegation "completely false, baseless and politically motivated".

AAP said neither Sisodia nor Jain has any role in the projects, functioning or official affairs of the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA). Their role in Punjab is "purely political", and they have no involvement in the authority's day-to-day operations or projects, the party said.

The response came after the ED claimed that its searches had revealed that Jain and Sisodia regularly held unofficial meetings with GMADA officials regarding master plans and site auctions.

According to the agency, key decisions on fresh auctions, land acquisitions and compensation were allegedly taken informally under Jain's instructions. The ED also claimed that senior GMADA officials carried files outside their office at PUDA Bhawan for meetings with Jain and his Officer on Special Duty Amarendra Jha at a Chandigarh residence.

The agency alleged that the meetings concerned policy decisions, including auctions and changes to master plans that allegedly benefited private individuals.

The ED on Tuesday launched search-and-survey operations at GMADA offices in Mohali, the residence of IAS officer Vikas Garg, principal secretary in the Housing and Urban Development Department, and a Delhi-based realty firm.

The agency later searched a Chandigarh residence where Jain often stays and the residence of Punjab minister Hardeep Singh Mundian's nephew in Ludhiana.

The searches were conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in a case linked to Tirupati Infra Projects Private Limited. The ED is probing alleged irregularities in land acquisition, land-use permissions, property auctions and concessions to private realtors.

AAP alleged the operation was illegal and said the Punjab government would take legal action if any unlawful conduct was established.