Chandigarh iPhone Langar Goes Viral as Voter Rolls Shrink 30 Percent and ED Raids Hit the City
Chandigarh drew national attention this week as an Amritsar businessman's iPhone Langar, adapting the Sikh tradition of community giving to giveaways of Apple iPhone 17 devices, went viral. The city also faced serious civic concerns as its voter count reportedly fell by 30 percent in two years, triggering political controversy, while the Enforcement Directorate raided 26 locations in Chandigarh and neighbouring states in a money laundering investigation.
🤝 Amritsar Businessman's iPhone Langar Puts Modern Spin on Sikh Tradition
NDTV reports that a businessman organised an iPhone Langar in Chandigarh, distributing 10 iPhone 17 units and promising 2,000 more. The headline, 'iPhone Langar in Chandigarh: 10 iPhone 17 given away, 2,000 promised,' describes an event that adapts the Sikh tradition of langar to the distribution of premium smartphones. The concept of langar, a cornerstone of Sikh practice that involves serving free food to all without distinction of caste or class, was reinterpreted here as a giveaway of Apple iPhone 17 devices. NDTV's report places the event in Chandigarh and identifies it as a notable and unusual community event that drew widespread attention. The organiser reportedly distributed 10 iPhone 17 handsets and made a pledge to give away 2,000 more. The event attracted significant attention given both the high monetary value of the items distributed and the cultural resonance of the langar concept in Punjabi and Sikh communities across India and the diaspora. NDTV covered the story as a national news item originating from Chandigarh. [1]
🗳️ Chandigarh Voter Count Drops 30 Percent in Two Years
The Times of India reports that Chandigarh's registered voter count has dropped sharply, falling by 30 per cent over two years with nearly two lakh fewer voters on the roll compared to 2024. The headline, 'Chandigarh voter count plunges 30% in two years: nearly 2 lakh fewer than 2024,' documents a significant decline in the electoral roll of the Union Territory capital. The article appears in Times of India's Chandigarh city section. The sharp drop in registered voters has become a political flashpoint in the city, with politicians raising questions about how such a substantial number of electors could have been removed from the rolls in a short period. A 30 per cent decline over two years is a dramatic shift for a city of Chandigarh's size and is being scrutinised by civic observers and the political opposition. The Times of India links the decline to the final publication of Chandigarh's electoral roll following a Special Intensive Revision process, according to related coverage included in the same report. [5]
ED Raids 26 Locations in Chandigarh Region in Money Laundering Probe
ANI News reports that the Enforcement Directorate conducted raids at 26 locations across Delhi, Chandigarh, Haryana and Punjab in connection with a money laundering case linked to Tirupati Infraprojects Pvt Ltd. The report is dated September 22, 2026, and filed under ANI's national general news coverage. The Enforcement Directorate, India's financial crimes agency, conducted the multi-city raid as part of its investigation into alleged money laundering involving Tirupati Infraprojects. Chandigarh was among the cities where premises were searched, alongside locations in Delhi, Haryana and Punjab. The ANI report names the company as Tirupati Infraprojects Pvt Ltd and states that 26 places were raided in total. Enforcement Directorate actions involving real estate and infrastructure companies have been a recurring theme in north India, with Chandigarh frequently appearing in such investigations given its position as the shared capital of Punjab and Haryana. The September 22 raids are part of an active money laundering probe, according to the ANI report. [4]
Sources: [1] NDTV · [5] The Times of India · [4] ANI News