Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
Ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted fresh raids on senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and minister Sanjeev Arora at multiple locations in Chandigarh, Delhi and Gurugram. According to sources, Arora has been arrested following the searches.
The ED teams reached Arora’s government residence in Chandigarh’s Sector 2 with nearly 15 vehicles and sealed the premises. CRPF personnel were deployed outside the house, and no one was allowed to enter or leave during the operation.
According to ED sources, searches were carried out at four locations, including Arora’s official residence and the office of Hampton Sky Realty Limited. This is reportedly the third ED raid on Arora within a year and the second within a month.
ED officials claimed that the investigation revealed alleged large-scale money laundering involving fake GST purchases worth over ₹100 crore through Arora’s company in the mobile phone trade.
Investigators suspect that bogus purchases were shown to generate fraudulent transactions, while exports were allegedly used to facilitate illegal round-tripping of funds from Dubai back into India.
Reacting strongly to the raids, AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal accused the BJP-led central government of misusing central agencies to target Punjab leaders after the conclusion of the West Bengal elections.
Kejriwal alleged that the Centre had repeatedly discriminated against Punjab by attempting to “attack Punjab’s water rights,” trying to “take over Punjab University,” and withholding rural development funds. He further claimed that ED raids were being used not to recover black money but to pressure opposition leaders into joining the BJP.
Referring to businessman and MP Ashok Mittal, Kejriwal alleged that ED action against him stopped after he joined the BJP. He claimed that Sanjeev Arora was being repeatedly targeted because he refused to switch sides.
In a sharp political attack, Kejriwal compared Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s actions to those of Mughal ruler Aurangzeb, saying Punjab would resist “oppression” inspired by the sacrifices of Sikh Gurus.
The ED has not yet issued an official detailed statement regarding the arrest or the exact charges filed against Arora.
