In an unforeseen turn of events, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has launched a series of raids across 20 locations in Chandigarh, Punjab, including the residence of the Punjab Excise Commissioner, Varun Roojam. These raids were conducted about the infamous ‘Guava Orchard Compensation Scam.’
Intensifying its investigations into the massive INR 137 crore scam in Punjab, ED unearthed the involvement of fraudulent acquisition of compensation which was meant for guava orchards on land acquired by the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) at Bakarpur village. In this scam government officials from the Horticulture, Revenue, and GMADA departments allegedly collaborated with private individuals to generate fake documents, while inflating land value.
To carry out this scam, individuals with prior knowledge of upcoming land acquisition strategically purchased the land and planted guava trees just before the acquisition to claim higher compensation for non-existent orchards.
The Punjab Vigilance Bureau, which has been actively investigating the scam, has made significant revelations in uncovering the truth behind the fraudulent activities. So far, 21 individuals, including beneficiaries and public servants, have been arrested in connection to the scam. One of them is Jaspreet Sidhu, a horticulture development officer, who played a major role in facilitating the illegal transactions.
The scam came to light last year when the Punjab Vigilance Bureau filed charges against 33 individuals, exposing their activities in wrongfully obtaining compensation for guava orchards through fraudulent means. One of the central figures in the scandal is Rajesh Dhiman, the Deputy commissioner of Ferozepur, whose wife, Jasmine Kaur Dhiman, is listed as a beneficiary who received substantial compensation unlawfully.
It is alleged that Dhiman along with Varun Roojam, the current Punjab Excise Commissioner, has leveraged their positions to orchestrate the scam. The involvement of high-ranking officials has sent shockwaves across the administrative landscape, raising serious questions about the integrity and accountability of public servants.
During their raids, ED has found incriminating documents, which could potentially play as crucial evidence on the financial dealings and connections between the accused. While the Vigilance Bureau’s priority is to identify and arrest the individuals involved in the scam, the ED is focused on money laundering, suggesting tracking of the illegal flow of funds.
The further involvement of Punjab and Haryana High Court in ordering the accused beneficiaries to deposit a substantial sum of INR 72.36 crore as compensation for the misappropriated funds underscores the severity of the situation.
The magnitude of the scam is staggering, Vigilance Bureau estimates that over INR137 crore was embezzled, with over 100 beneficiaries receiving the wrongful compensation between 2016 and 2020.
The ED raids have marked a significant development in the ongoing investigation into the Guava Orchard Scam. As the investigation proceeds, more details about the scam’s scale, the involvement of key-figures, and the flow of illegal funds are likely to emerge. The authorities investigating the scam must ensure transparency, accountability, and justice regarding the recovered funds and arrests, otherwise, common people’s trust in government institutions will be irreparably shattered, casting a long shadow of doubt and confusion towards the very foundation of democracy itself.
