ED Summons Former Punjab Chief Secretary Anurag Verma in Suntec City Land-Use Probe

Jalandhar/Chandigarh, August 26, 2026: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned former Punjab Chief Secretary and senior IAS officer Anurag Verma for questioning in connection with its money-laundering investigation into alleged irregularities linked to the Suntec City and Altus Space Builders real-estate projects in Punjab.

Verma has been asked to appear before the ED at its zonal office in Jalandhar on August 31. The development comes as the agency expands its investigation into alleged irregularities involving Change of Land Use (CLU) approvals, project layout modifications and permissions granted to private developers.

Anurag Verma to Appear Before ED for First Time

Verma, a 1993-batch Punjab-cadre IAS officer, is currently serving as Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue.

During the period relevant to the allegations under investigation, he was heading Punjab's Housing and Urban Development Department, which is why the ED is examining decisions and records from that period.

According to Hindustan Times, Verma has acknowledged receiving the ED summons. He said the summons did not specify the particular case but that he would appear and provide the agency with the required records and facts.

Importantly, being summoned for questioning does not by itself establish wrongdoing, and the ED's investigation remains ongoing.

Kanwal Preet Brar Also Re-Summoned

The ED has also re-summoned IAS officer Kanwal Preet Brar, asking her to appear at the agency's Jalandhar office on August 27 with additional documents.

Brar had previously appeared before the ED on August 18. The agency is examining official decisions and records concerning land-use permissions and layout-related approvals.

The two summons indicate that the investigation is increasingly examining the role of government officials alongside private developers and other individuals connected with the projects.

What Is the Suntec City Case?

The ED investigation centres on alleged irregularities surrounding the Suntec City project in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh, Mohali, and related real-estate developments.

The agency is examining allegations that forged or questionable consent documents were used to obtain CLU approvals for land intended for residential and commercial development.

According to the ED's case, the alleged irregularities involved land belonging to multiple landowners and approvals that subsequently enabled the development and marketing of major real-estate projects.

The investigation originated from a Punjab Police FIR registered in November 2022 at Mullanpur police station over allegations involving cheating, fraudulent CLU documents and related irregularities.

ED Examines CLU Approvals and Layout Changes

One of the central areas of the investigation is the process through which Change of Land Use permissions were granted.

The ED is examining whether prescribed procedures were followed and whether any rules were allegedly relaxed or bypassed in ways that benefited private developers.

The agency is also investigating alleged unauthorised changes to approved layouts in major projects.

These issues are significant because CLU approval is an important regulatory step when agricultural land is proposed to be used for residential, commercial or other non-agricultural purposes.

Muirwoods Ecocity Also Under Scanner

The investigation has also brought the Muirwoods Ecocity project in New Chandigarh into focus.

According to reports, the ED is examining allegations surrounding changes to the approved layout and the subsequent transfer of group-housing sites.

The agency is looking into whether these changes were properly authorised and whether they resulted in benefits to private entities.

These allegations remain part of the ongoing investigation and have not been finally established by a court.

ED's ₹348-Crore Proceeds-of-Crime Claim

The investigation has also taken a financial-magnitude dimension.

According to Hindustan Times, the ED has put the alleged proceeds of crime at approximately ₹348 crore in its prosecution complaint.

The agency has alleged that the amount includes approximately ₹212.58 crore from sales and ₹135.41 crore in unsold inventory connected to the developments under investigation.

The figures represent allegations made by the investigating agency and will ultimately be subject to judicial scrutiny.

Allegations Involving Project Approvals

The ED has raised several allegations concerning the Suntec City project, including questions surrounding:

CLU approvals
Allegedly forged consent letters
Approved layout modifications
Project registration and approvals
Transfer and development rights
Compliance with GMADA conditions
RERA-related requirements
Allocation of land for economically weaker sections
Completion and possession-related approvals

The agency is examining whether these actions resulted in financial benefits to private parties.

Previous ED Action in the Case

The Suntec City investigation has been underway for several months.

Earlier in 2026, the ED conducted searches at multiple locations in connection with alleged CLU fraud, forgery, cheating of landowners and homebuyers and suspected money laundering related to the project.

The agency subsequently arrested Ajay Sehgal, who was associated with the Indian Cooperative House Building Society, in connection with the money-laundering investigation.

The ED has alleged that forged signatures and thumb impressions were used on consent documents involving landowners.

Why the Latest Summons Are Significant

The summons to Anurag Verma are significant because he is a senior Punjab-cadre bureaucrat who was heading the Housing and Urban Development Department during the period now under investigation.

The ED's questioning could help investigators establish:

How the relevant CLU applications were processed.
Which officials examined the proposals.
What documents were considered before approvals were granted.
Whether subsequent layout modifications followed the required procedure.
Whether complaints or objections were received by authorities.
What role different government departments played in the approval process.

Verma is expected to provide official records and explain the administrative decisions that fall within the agency's investigation.

No Finding of Guilt Against Summoned Officers

The ED investigation is still underway, and the summons should not be interpreted as a finding of guilt.

The agency is seeking information, documents and explanations from officials as part of its probe. Whether any official or private individual bears criminal liability will ultimately depend on the evidence and proceedings before the competent authorities and courts.

Investigation Expands Across Punjab's Real-Estate Sector

The Suntec City case has become part of a broader investigation into alleged irregularities in land-use approvals and real-estate development in the Mohali-New Chandigarh region.

The ED has previously summoned officials associated with GMADA and town planning authorities, indicating that investigators are examining the entire approval chain rather than focusing only on private developers.

The investigation could therefore have wider implications for how major real-estate projects in Punjab receive regulatory approvals.

What Happens Next?

Anurag Verma is scheduled to appear before the ED in Jalandhar on August 31, while Kanwal Preet Brar is expected to appear on August 27 with additional records.

The agency is likely to examine official files, approval documents, correspondence and records connected with the projects.

Further questioning or additional summons cannot be ruled out as investigators continue to establish the sequence of decisions and transactions.

Key Points
Former Punjab Chief Secretary Anurag Verma has been summoned by the ED.
He is scheduled to appear in Jalandhar on August 31, 2026.
The probe concerns alleged irregularities linked to Suntec City and Altus Space Builders.
Investigators are examining CLU approvals and alleged unauthorised layout changes.
IAS officer Kanwal Preet Brar has also been re-summoned for August 27.
The ED has alleged approximately ₹348 crore in proceeds of crime in its case.
The investigation involves projects in Mullanpur/New Chandigarh and the wider Mohali region.
The allegations remain under investigation and do not establish guilt against the officials or other persons questioned.
Conclusion

The ED's summons to former Punjab Chief Secretary Anurag Verma marks a significant development in the ongoing Suntec City-related money-laundering investigation.

With the agency examining CLU approvals, layout changes and the role of government authorities, Verma's August 31 appearance could provide investigators with important information about the administrative decisions surrounding the projects.

For Punjab's rapidly expanding real-estate sector, the case also highlights the importance of transparent land-use approvals, regulatory compliance and accountability in major development projects.

NewsDesk7.com will continue to track the investigation and report verified developments as they emerge.