Chandigarh, May 9: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Sanjeev Arora, a prominent cabinet minister in the Punjab government led by Bhagwant Mann, from his official residence in Sector 2. This action follows a comprehensive search operation conducted by the ED at Arora’s residences and offices under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) of 2002. However, the ED has yet to release an official statement regarding his arrest.
Bikram Singh Majithia, a leader of the Shiromani Akali Dal, claimed that Arora was apprehended in connection with an alleged GST fraud case. Since Saturday morning, the ED has been conducting raids at four locations linked to Arora, marking the third such operation in a year. In April, the ED had also raided Arora’s properties. According to officials, the search operations were carried out in Chandigarh and the Delhi-NCR region, including the government residence allocated to Arora as a cabinet minister.
In response to the raids, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann accused the BJP of misusing central agencies. He posted on X, stating, “Once again, the BJP’s ED has reached Sanjeev Arora’s home. This is the third time in a year and the second time in a month. Yet, they have found nothing.” He further remarked, “I want to tell Modi Ji that Punjab is the land of Gurus, which even Aurangzeb could not subdue. This is the land of Bhagat Singh, who never bowed before the British. Therefore, Punjab will never yield to Modi’s tactics. The end of this unethical alliance between the ED and BJP will begin from Punjab.”
Sanjeev Arora, an MLA from Ludhiana (West) in 2024, has faced scrutiny from the ED over an alleged money laundering case related to converting industrial land into residential projects. At that time, he was a member of the Rajya Sabha.
Arvind Kejriwal commented, “Since the Modi government came to power, we have seen the CBI and ED working to break other parties and intimidate leaders into joining the BJP, rather than stopping corruption and money laundering. This ED action is another step in that direction…”
Majithia also linked the ED’s raids to Hampton Sky Realty Limited. He wrote on X, “The ED is investigating an alleged fake GST mobile phone purchase and export racket worth ₹100 crores, which is connected to money laundering and illegal repatriation of funds from Dubai to India.”
In another post, he confirmed that Minister Sanjeev Arora has been arrested. Arora’s arrest has highlighted the severity of the ongoing network of alleged fraud and financial irregularities in Punjab.
Majithia demanded immediate lookout circulars against the Chief Minister’s OSDs Rajbir Singh, Nitin Gohal, Birdevinder Singh, and Preetpal Singh Dhindsa. He insisted that every individual linked to GST fraud, illegal money transfers from Dubai, and suspicious land deals should be thoroughly investigated. “Farmers have the right to know how their lands were bought cheaply and sold at huge profits through influential networks,” he stated.
He further alleged that Punjab must not become a hub for corruption, middlemen, and political patronage. “If the state’s vigilance can act against opposition leaders, the same laws should equally apply to ruling leaders and their associates,” he added.
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