ED Summons Former Punjab Chief Secretary Anurag Verma in Suntec City Probe
Chandigarh: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned former Punjab Chief Secretary Anurag Verma to appear before the agency on August 31 in connection with its ongoing probe into alleged irregularities involving Suntec City and Altus Space Builders Private Limited.
The agency has also re-summoned IAS officer Kanwal Preet Brar, directing him to appear at the ED’s zonal office in Jalandhar on August 27 with additional documents related to the case. Brar had earlier appeared before the agency on August 18.
Anurag Verma summoned on August 31
Verma, who is currently serving as Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue, Punjab, is expected to appear before the ED for the first time in connection with the matter.
During the period when the alleged irregularities took place, Verma was heading the Housing and Urban Development Department.
The ED is examining the roles of officials involved in the approval process and whether prescribed rules and procedures were followed while granting Change of Land Use (CLU) permissions.
ED examining alleged layout deviations
The agency is also scrutinising allegations related to unauthorised modifications to approved layouts and whether such deviations may have benefited private builders.
As part of the investigation, the ED is examining relevant official records and documents to establish the circumstances surrounding the approvals and the alleged irregularities.
Kanwal Preet Brar re-summoned
IAS officer Kanwal Preet Brar, who appeared before the ED on August 18, has been asked to appear again on August 27 and submit additional documents related to the case.
The appearance of the two officers is expected to provide the agency with further information as it continues to examine the approvals, official records and circumstances surrounding the Suntec City matter.
The investigation remains ongoing.
