Jalandhar: Kanwal Preet Brar, a 2007-batch IAS officer of the Punjab cadre, appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Jalandhar on Thursday for the second time in 10 days in connection with its money-laundering investigation into alleged irregularities in land-use approvals for the Suntec City project in Mohali.
Brar reached the ED’s zonal office at around 10 a.m. and was questioned for more than seven hours. She had earlier appeared before the agency on August 18, when she was questioned for over eight hours.
The investigation concerns the alleged use of forged consent documents to obtain modified Change of Land Use (CLU) permissions for the Suntec City project. The ED is examining the administrative process through which the permissions were granted and the documents submitted for them.
Brar’s Role Under ED Examination
Brar is currently serving as Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, according to the state government’s senior-officer listing. The ED’s questioning relates to her earlier tenure as Director, Town and Country Planning, in 2024, when the modified CLU approval for the project was processed.
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The agency is also examining the role of other officials associated with the approval process. Brar’s repeated questioning does not by itself establish that she has been accused of committing an offence.
What Is the Suntec City Case?
The case originated from allegations concerning forged consent letters relating to land in Palheri village, Mohali. The ED’s investigation stems from a Punjab Police FIR concerning alleged cheating, forgery, criminal breach of trust and conspiracy connected with the project.
According to the ED’s prosecution complaint filed in July, the Suntec City project involved 108.58 acres of agricultural land in the Greater Mohali area. The agency alleged that fake consent letters were submitted to obtain CLU permissions and that proceeds of crime connected with the project amounted to nearly ₹348 crore.
Key points in the probe:
- The alleged forged consent documents concerned 30.5 acres belonging to 15 landowners, according to the ED.
- The Punjab Police FIR was registered in November 2022.
- The ED initiated its money-laundering investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
- The agency conducted searches at multiple premises linked to the project and associated entities.
- Ajay Sehgal, secretary of the Indian Cooperative House Building Society and promoter linked to Suntec City, was arrested by the ED in May 2026.
ED Probe Continues
A Mohali court rejected Sehgal’s bail plea in August in the money-laundering case. The ED has continued examining the alleged irregularities surrounding the Suntec City and other related real-estate projects.
Brar’s second appearance before the agency comes as investigators continue to examine the government-side approval trail and the records associated with the disputed CLU permissions.
Who Is Kanwal Preet Brar?
Kanwal Preet Brar is a 2007-batch IAS officer of the Punjab cadre. She is currently serving as Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, along with responsibilities as Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Commissioner, Ayush. Born in 1968, Brar holds M.A. and M.Phil. degrees in Economics.
During her career, Brar has held several administrative positions in the Punjab government. She served as Director, Town and Country Planning in 2024, the period relevant to the ED’s examination of the processing of Change of Land Use (CLU) permissions linked to the Suntec City project.
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