DW BUREAU / Chandigarh The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) is all set to register an FIR against a real estate promoter and several senior government officials after unearthing a multi-crore housing project scam in Mohali. Sources said a case of cheating, fraud and corruption is likely to be registered against the promoter of the ABS Builders, Ajay Sehgal and several senior officials who were allegedly in flagrant violation of law involving sale and purchase of prime land of a Cooperative society. The State Vigilance, they said, recently inquired into Registrar Cooperative Societies and Housing Department records pertaining to the Working Friends Housing Cooperative Society, Mohali and found that the Society office bearers and some members in collusion with the builder and others allegedly indulged in the violation of GMADA master plan and also illegally sold 7.5 acre of prime land for mere Rs 15 crore near Sohana Gurdwara in Mohali. The Society had passed a resolution in 2021 for development of the said land but decided to sell 7.5 acres to the ABS Builder after obtaining permission from the Registrar Cooperative Societies, Punjab during the previous Channi Government. The Society had earlier sought GMADA permission for setting up of a group housing project, but could not get the requisite approval since as per the GMADA norms, the housing project required to be situated on 25 acres of land. Subsequently, it signed an agreement with the ABS builders and transferred a major chunk to it for construction of flats that would have been violation of the masterplan. After the sale of 7.5 acres land, the ABS builder had applied for the approvals of project layout from GMADA which has still been pending with the authority. During the process, VB sources said several high ups and influential people had become members of the Cooperative society which is also a matter of investigation for the State Vigilance. (editor@dailyworld.in)