HC appoints warrant officer as Punjab govt challenges ED raids

Late Wednesday night, acting on a petition from the state government, the high court constituted a special bench, heard the matter and appointed a warrant officer to ascertain the claims. The court sought a report by 2 pm on Thursday.

The hearing was conducted via WhatsApp call from the camp office of justice Sanjay Vashisth at around 10:45 pm and continued for over one hour.

The habeas corpus plea, filed by the under-secretary, department of home affairs, alleged that at least eight officers — principal secretary (housing and urban development), Vikas Garg; chief administrator, GMADA, Sandeep Rishi; additional chief administrator, Amarinder Singh Malhi; additional chief administrator (finance), GMADA, Rakesh Popli; estate officer, GMADA, Aman Gupta; and land acquisition collector, GMADA, Rohit Jindal had been illegally confined by the ED and sought their release.