Noida: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has executed extensive raids at 12 locations associated with the directors and affiliates of Hacienda Project Private Limited in Noida. This operation has revealed a significant haul of diamonds and other assets valued in the crores.
Sources indicate that this investigation is part of a larger crackdown linked to the Rs 300 crore Lotus 300 project scam, prompting coordinated raids across Delhi, Noida, Meerut, and Chandigarh. Officials were reportedly taken aback by the volume of diamonds unearthed, particularly at the residence of Sardar Mohinder Singh, a former IAS officer.
During the raids, authorities seized diamonds estimated at Rs 12 crore, gold jewelry worth Rs 7 crore, and cash totaling Rs 1 crore. Notably, diamonds valued at Rs 7 crore were found at Singh’s residence in Chandigarh.
Mohinder Singh, who has held prominent positions including Chairman of the Noida and Greater Noida Authorities and Principal Secretary for Housing and Urban Planning under former Chief Minister Mayawati, has a controversial history. He is currently implicated in the notorious memorial scam in Uttar Pradesh and is accused of facilitating advantages for major developers during his tenure as CEO of the Noida Authority.
Singh, who joined the IAS in 1978 after passing the UPSC exam in 1977, retired in July 2012. Throughout his career, he was considered one of the most influential bureaucrats in Uttar Pradesh, especially during Mayawati’s administration. His involvement has also been linked to various builder scams, including those involving Supertech and Amrapali. Currently, 26 Noida Authority officers are under investigation, with 20 having retired, and 11 found guilty in the controversial twin tower case.
The ED’s ongoing investigations signify a concerted effort to address corruption in high-profile real estate projects, shedding light on potential malfeasance within Uttar Pradesh’s bureaucratic circles.