ED raids Mohali IT professional’s home; Punjab govt denies links to Bhagwant Mann

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday carried out raids at the residence of an IT professional, Nitin Bajaj, near Kharar in Punjab’s Mohali. During the raid, two bags allegedly containing Rs 20 lakh cash were thrown down from the building and subsequently seized by ED officials.

Questions over links

According to a report in the Indian Express, quoting sources, Bajaj is considered to be a close aide of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. However, the State government, in a statement issued later in the day, denied any such association.

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ED officials raided Flat No. 906, Western Towers, Sector 127, Chajju Majra. Morning walkers in the locality noticed the two bags of cash thrown to the ground floor and informed the authorities. The bags were confiscated by ED officials.

Searches widen

Raids were also conducted at locations in Chandigarh’s Sector 16 and Patiala as part of the same operation. They reportedly took place at Bir Devinder Singh’s premises in Mohali, who is considered to be an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) functionary.

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Officials associated with the operation did not disclose the exact nature of the case. However, according to the report, the development indicated that the searches were linked to alleged monetary transactions currently under scrutiny by the central agency.

Cash recovery claim

During one of the searches conducted at Western Towers Society near Kharar in Punjab’s Mohali, a bag allegedly containing cash was seen being thrown from the upper floors of the residential complex. The bag was later recovered by officials after a brief chase, stated the report, quoting sources.

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In a statement issued later in the evening, the Punjab government confirmed the incident and provided its version of the sequence of events. “The Enforcement Directorate (ED), a central agency, raided the home of an IT sector employee today at Western Towers Society in Kharar, Mohali, Punjab. Seeing the team approach, someone threw a bag full of cash from the ninth floor of the residential tower, which a driver already standing below picked up,” the statement said.

Punjab govt’s response

“However, the team noticed the incident and chased and apprehended the fleeing driver with the bag, recovering approximately Rs 2.1 million in cash. The matter is under investigation. Officials have refrained from commenting,” it added.

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The State government also dismissed reports linking the individual under investigation to the Punjab Chief Minister or his office. “Many people come in contact with leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party. They can be photographed together, but that does not establish proximity. It is incorrect to describe him as anyone’s aide,” the spokesperson said.

Political reactions

Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa reacted sharply to the ED action. In a post on X, he wrote, “A little bird told me that a central agency is conducting raids on close aides of the Punjab CM in Kharar. Whether this leads to real justice or the political ‘washing machine’ swings into action to clear all stains — only time will tell.”

The latest searches by ED come amid a series of similar actions involving persons associated with the ruling party in Punjab.