The Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out searches at various locations in Punjab on Wednesday as part of an investigation into a money-laundering case linked to an alleged scam involving compensation for guava orchards.

A team from the ED in Delhi conducted a search at the residence of Varun Roojam, an IAS officer serving as the Excise and Taxation Commissioner of Punjab, located in Chandigarh.

It is alleged that Varun Roojam invested in the orchard through his family members at the encouragement of Rajesh Dhiman, who was then the additional chief administrator (ACA) of GMADA. Approximately 100 beneficiaries, involving nearly 200 acres of land, are implicated in this case.

The residence of Ferozepur DC Rajesh Dhiman was also searched. He was detained and is being brought to Patiala.. Among the listed beneficiaries is Jasmine Kaur Dhiman, the wife of Rajesh Dhiman, who allegedly received substantial compensation unlawfully for land acquired by GMADA in Bakarpur village.

ED teams also raided the residence of chartered accountant Anil Arora. He and his wife are accused in the guava orchard scam.

The ED initiated its case following the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) filing a First Information Report (FIR) regarding the misappropriation of ₹137 crore designated as compensation for guava orchards affected by land acquisition conducted by the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) in Bakarpur village.

The scam was being investigated by the state Vigilance Bureau. More than 20 people have been arrested in the scam till now.

The Vigilance Bureau had filed a case in the guava orchard compensation matter, amounting to Rs 130 crore, involving revenue and horticulture officials. They are accused of receiving compensation based on falsified documents for land acquired by GMADA in Bakarpur and neighboring villages between 2016 and 2020.