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Haryana: Raids at TDI group linked with Gurgaon-Manesar land scam, says ED
Project records, digital devices, luxury vehicles seized; agency says over 400 acres of notified land was bought through intermediaries
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The enforcement directorate raids conducted at several premises of TDI Group for over days are part of the investigation into the Gurgaon-Manesar land scam, the agency said on Friday. The enforcement directorate (ED) has linked the seized project records, files, digital devices, computers, hard disks, servers and luxury vehicles identified as “proceeds of crime” during searches lasting more than two days at business and residential premises linked to TDI Group chairman and several of its companies, including TDI Infratech and TDI Infrastructure, in New Delhi and Mohali. The searches were conducted on September 26 by the ED’s Chandigarh Zone-I office.
The agency said the searches were linked to an ongoing money-laundering probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, arising from a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) FIR. The TDI Group is being investigated over alleged transactions with the Atul Bansal and ABW Infrastructure led group of companies during the period under investigation.
The development comes days after an ED operation at TDI House in Sector 119, which continued for about 53 hours as they left on Wednesday around 4pm. During that search, officials examined land-related documents and electronic data, including information stored on computers, hard disks and mobile phones. According to sources, data from devices was cloned for further examination.
In its latest statement, the ED said its investigation found that more than 400 acres of state-notified land in Manesar, Naurangpur and Lakhnoula villages, earmarked for acquisition in 2007, was allegedly purchased by private builders and intermediaries from farmers at low prices amid the possibility of acquisition by Haryana State Industrial & Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC). The acquisition process subsequently lapsed and the award was dropped, after which the land was allegedly sold at significantly higher prices, generating substantial profits. The agency has identified the TDI Group, led by Ravinder Taneja, as one such intermediary.
Between 2005 and 2007, the TDI Group allegedly used Indo Asian Construction Co, NCR Properties and Divya Jyoti Enterprises to purchase nearly 33 acres from farmers and subsequently sell it to the Atul Bansal group at high profits.
The ED said several records relating to alleged irregularities in other projects also surfaced during the searches and are being examined. It said the scrutiny of seized records, alleged tainted assets and the financial affairs of TDI Group companies is underway and the further course of the investigation will determine subsequent action.
