16 October 2026 (Navroze Bureau) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has intensified its investigation into an alleged ₹500-crore panchayat land scam in Punjab’s Pathankot district, focusing on suspected illegal mining and the disputed transfer of 91.75 acres of village common land. The agency’s officials recently visited the headquarters of the Rural Development and Panchayats Department in Mohali and collected records connected with the alleged irregularities, according to a report published by The Tribune on October 16, 2026.
The investigation concerns land in Bhattian village, which falls under the Gol village panchayat in Pathankot district. The land, known as shamlat land, is held for common village purposes. Investigators are examining how the mineral-rich property was allegedly transferred to private individuals and whether illegal extraction of sand and riverbed material from the area caused financial losses to the state government.
The case has drawn attention because of the scale of the alleged land transaction, the mining activity under investigation and questions surrounding the administrative approval for the transfer.
ED Collects Records from Panchayats Department
According to The Tribune, ED officials visited the department’s Mohali headquarters over the preceding two days and seized documents relevant to the case. Investigators are examining administrative records relating to the disputed land transfer and the circumstances in which the order was issued.
The money-laundering investigation follows a First Information Report registered by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau. The ED is investigating whether proceeds allegedly generated through illegal mining and related transactions were handled in violation of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The agency is also examining the role of individuals and businesses suspected of being connected to the extraction, purchase, sale and transportation of sand and riverbed material. Investigators suspect that the activities may have taken place without the necessary permissions and payment of applicable taxes and royalties. These allegations remain under investigation.
₹1.75 Crore Cash Seized During Earlier Searches
The latest action follows searches conducted by the ED at multiple locations in Pathankot in July 2026. During those operations, the agency seized approximately ₹1.75 crore in unaccounted cash and froze bank accounts containing a combined balance of around ₹91.34 lakh, according to earlier reports.
The searches covered 16 locations and included premises linked to mining businesses and Vijay Kumar Kataruchak, described in reports as an associate of Punjab Cabinet Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak. Documents allegedly connected with illegal mining and the land transaction were also recovered.
The ED is examining the financial trail associated with the suspected activities to establish whether money generated through the alleged illegal extraction and sale of minerals was channelled through financial transactions that could attract provisions of the PMLA.
Disputed Transfer of 91.75 Acres of Panchayat Land
A central part of the investigation concerns the transfer of approximately 91.75 acres of mineral-rich shamlat land in Bhattian village to private individuals. The ED alleges that the transfer was approved through an order issued by then Additional Deputy Commissioner Kuldeep Singh shortly before his retirement.
According to the agency’s allegations, Singh was given additional administrative responsibility in Pathankot shortly before retiring and subsequently issued the disputed order. The circumstances surrounding his appointment, the approval process and the beneficiaries of the land transfer are among the matters being examined.
The land’s proximity to the international border and its mineral resources have added to the significance of the case. Investigators are also looking into whether mining continued without the required permissions and despite restrictions on such activities.
The allegations against the individuals concerned have not, by themselves, established criminal guilt. The investigation is intended to determine the legality of the land transfer, the mining operations and the financial transactions associated with them.
Sale of Mohali Panchayat Land Also Under Scrutiny
Apart from the Pathankot case, investigators have reportedly obtained documents relating to the sale of 46 kanals of shamlat land in Papri village, Mohali, to private real estate company Janta Land Promoters Limited.
The documents are being examined as part of the wider inquiry into alleged irregularities involving village common land. The available report does not establish that the Mohali transaction is identical to the Pathankot land transfer; rather, it indicates that investigators are examining additional land-related records.
The ED’s ongoing review of departmental documents and financial transactions may help establish whether the suspected irregularities involved a wider network of individuals or businesses. Further findings will depend on the evidence gathered during the investigation