ED arrests Punjab minister Sanjeev Arora in money laundering case

NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) connected Saturday arrested Punjab curate Sanjeev Arora aft carrying retired caller searches against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) person and respective others allegedly linked to him successful transportation with a wealth laundering probe.Also Read | ED raids Punjab curate Sanjeev Arora's location successful wealth laundering caseOfficials said Arora was arrested nether the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).The Punjab industries curate was taken into custody hours aft the ED conducted raids astatine 5 locations crossed Delhi, Gurugram and Chandigarh, including his authoritative residence successful Chandigarh arsenic good arsenic premises linked to his associates and companies.Arora had besides faced ED enactment successful April, conscionable days aft akin raids were conducted against then-AAP Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Kumar Mittal.

Shortly afterwards, Mittal joined the BJP on with six different Rajya Sabha MPs from the party, including Raghav Chadha.Also Read | ‘Happy wherever I am’: Minister Sanjeev Arora rules retired AAP exit aft ED raidsAccording to the cardinal agency, Arora and entities linked to him are accused of generating fake acquisition bills for mobile phones done allegedly non-existent firms operating retired of Delhi. Investigators fishy these transactions were utilized to fraudulently assertion input taxation recognition (ITC), GST refunds and export-related benefits.

The bureau further alleged that the proceeds from the transactions were routed done exports and aboriginal “round-tripped” from Dubai to India successful an effort to legitimise illicit funds.The 62-year-old person is the MLA from Ludhiana West. His apprehension comes little than a twelvemonth earlier Punjab is scheduled to spell to the Assembly polls successful February 2027.AAP leaders person linked the enactment to the upcoming elections, accusing the BJP-led Centre of pursuing a run of governmental vendetta done cardinal investigative agencies.

“By conducting ED raids, their intent is not to find immoderate achromatic wealth oregon amerciable documents. Their intent is to nonstop a connection to the idiosyncratic being raided that if they articulation the BJP, everything volition beryllium forgiven,” Punjab main curate Bhagwat Mann told reporters successful Sangrur.Also Read | 'This is Punjab, not frightened by threats': Bhagwant Mann aft ED raid connected ministerAAP nationalist convenor Arvind Kejriwal besides attacked the BJP, claiming the enactment would look a governmental backlash successful Punjab.“Modi ji, spell up and behaviour 4 much ED raids — the BJP volition suffer deposits connected each its seats. The leaders you apprehension whitethorn travel retired successful 4 days, but the BJP volition not beryllium capable to acceptable ft successful Punjab for the adjacent 20 years,” Kejriwal posted connected X.