ED conducts preliminary enquiry into alleged money laundering in PCA land purchases
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, September 21, 2026: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has conducted a preliminary enquiry into allegations of money laundering in connection with land purchased by the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) in Bathinda and Amritsar and submitted its status report in a sealed cover to the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
As per The Tribune report, Senior Advocate Dheeraj Jain, appearing for the ED, informed the High Court that the preliminary enquiry had been completed and that the status report had been placed before the court in a sealed cover for its consideration.
Senior Advocates Vinod Ghai, Puneet Bali and Akshay Bhan, appearing for PCA office-bearers and other respondents, objected to the submission. They requested the court to first hear their objection regarding the maintainability of the petition before taking up other issues in the matter.
The High Court did not examine the ED’s status report during the hearing. It directed Jain to file the report with the Registry along with an appropriate affidavit.
The matter has been adjourned for further hearing on October 13.
The proceedings stem from a petition filed by Rakesh Handa against the PCA and others.
In its August 10 order, the High Court had recorded that Handa had earlier filed a complaint alleging financial irregularities in the PCA. The complaint was dismissed by the association’s Ombudsman on March 10, 2026, after Handa’s membership of the association had been terminated.
The order also recorded that Handa’s life membership was subsequently terminated by the PCA Apex Council on May 21. Handa has challenged the decision, stating that he was not given an opportunity of being heard before his life membership was terminated.
The ED’s status report will be considered by the court in the subsequent proceedings.