Patiala: Punjab govt on Friday informed a specially constituted division bench of the Punjab and Haryana high court that no demolition would be carried out at advocate Nikhil Saraf’s family-run eco-tourism retreat in Mohali district until Sept 11. A demolition notice had been pasted outside the property earlier that day.The urgent hearing was held on Friday night before Justices Harsimran Singh Sethi and Sunish Bindlish on the orders of the high court’s acting chief justice. Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association president Rohit Sud and other senior members appeared for Saraf.Saraf’s counsel alleged that authorities had moved hastily to demolish structures and cancel operating licences for “The Nest” (Forrest Farms) in Majri tehsil of Mohali district without supplying relevant complaints or providing an adequate hearing.Additional advocate general Ferry Sofat said a speaking order was passed on Sept 2 following a Nov 2024 show-cause notice and gave Saraf seven days to comply. The deadline expires on Sept 11, and no demolition would begin before then, he said.Responding to concerns about power disconnection and cancellation of the retreat’s licence by Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board, state counsel said no adverse order had been passed and Saraf had been granted a personal hearing on Sept 7.Recording the undertakings, the special bench directed Punjab govt to file its reply by Sept 7 and listed the case before the regular bench on Sept 8.GMADA’s regulatory wing had ordered the demolition of alleged unauthorised constructions in its Sept 2 order, invoking Punjab Regional and Town Planning and Development Act, 1995, and Punjab New Capital (Periphery) Control Act, 1952.Advocate Nikhil Saraf alleged the action was revived after he filed CWP-PIL No. 238 of 2026 on Aug 24, alleging institutional corruption, cash-for-transfers and policy manipulation involving Punjab officials. The high court has issued notices to state respondents and sought Enforcement Directorate records concerning communications sent to state DGP.ED placed alleged WhatsApp chats, leaked draft transfer orders and classified govt files before the high court, saying Punjab Police had not registered an FIR despite receiving actionable evidence under Section 66(2) of PMLA. CBI said it had “no objection” to investigating the multi-crore allegations if entrusted by high court and sought preservation and handover of official and digital records. Punjab govt opposed a CBI probe, calling the communications politically motivated.GMADA chief administrator Sandeep Rishi denied targeted action, saying due process was followed during routine enforcement against unauthorised construction and that another demolition order had been passed for the same village independent of Saraf’s case.
