ED Raid Case: High Court Fixes ₹55,000 Fee for Warrant Officer Appointed to Visit GMADA Office As Punjab Withdraws Habeas Corpus Petition
Punjab Government Withdraws Habeas Corpus Petition
Babushahi Network
Chandigarh, September 24, 2026: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has disposed of the Habeas Corpus petition as withdrawn by the Punjab Government through its Home Department in connection with the ED search at the GMADA office and allegations that senior government officials were being kept in illegal detention.
The Court has fixed a fee of ₹55,000 for the Warrant Officer appointed to visit the GMADA office in Mohali and examine the situation. The amount is to be deposited by the Punjab Government with the Registry of the High Court on or before September 28, 2026.
Punjab Government Had Alleged Illegal Detention of Senior Officers
The Punjab Government had approached the High Court alleging that during the ED search at the GMADA office, which began on September 22, senior officials, including Vikas Garg, IAS, Principal Secretary, Housing and Urban Development, and Sandeep Rishi, IAS, Chief Administrator, GMADA, among others, were allegedly being kept in illegal detention.
The government had sought their immediate release and directions concerning the ongoing ED search operation.
High Court Appointed Warrant Officer; Late-Night Visit to GMADA
Considering the circumstances, Justice Sanjay Vashisht appointed Rajan Nanda, Registrar of the High Court, as the Warrant Officer and directed him to visit the GMADA office in Mohali.
According to the report submitted by the Warrant Officer to the Court, he visited the GMADA office along with a police team at around 2:50 AM on September 24 and interacted with the officials present there.
The report stated that none of the GMADA officials was found to be under illegal detention or subjected to any pressure.
The officials informed the Warrant Officer that they were free to speak to their families, leave for home, as in the case of Vikas Garg, and order food from outside. Female employees were reportedly allowed to leave for home at around 6 PM.
ED Told Warrant Officer Why Officials Were Required to Stay
ED officials told the Warrant Officer that the process of cloning/downloading data from mobile phones, computers and other digital devices was taking time and therefore the presence of the concerned officials was necessary.
The ED also informed the Warrant Officer that it had the required survey and search warrants.
Punjab Government Withdrew Habeas Corpus Petition
Following the Warrant Officer's report and completion of the ED's search operation, the senior counsel appearing for the Punjab Government sought permission to withdraw the petition.
The High Court allowed the withdrawal and disposed of the matter, while giving the State liberty to pursue an appropriate legal remedy before the competent forum in the future.
₹55,000 Fee Fixed for Warrant Officer
The High Court's order specifically notes that while issuing directions for appointment of the Warrant Officer on September 23, 2026, no direction had been made regarding his fee.
The Court observed that a senior-level officer of the rank of Registrar of the Court had been appointed as Warrant Officer and therefore considered it appropriate to fix a fee higher than the usual charges.
The order states:
“Accordingly, fee of the Warrant Officer in this matter is assessed as Rs.55,000/-”
The order further directs that the amount “shall be paid by the petitioner-State of Punjab” by depositing it with the Registry of the Court on or before September 28, 2026, after which it will be paid to the Warrant Officer as per procedure.
Click to read the copy of the 9 page order of HC:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MQrdwVyzhzwdO8Yl5nKwlrg1NJmbtqRc/view?usp=sharing