Ludhiana (Gurpreet Singh): The Enforcement Directorate (ED) intensified its investigation in Punjab on Friday by carrying out searches at premises associated with Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora. Officials, backed by central security forces, arrived at his Ludhiana residence in the early hours and began examining documents and records.
Sources said the operation was not limited to one location. Several properties believed to have links to the minister, including his official residence, were also covered as part of the coordinated action. The probe is reportedly connected to a case involving alleged financial misconduct and irregularities in land-related dealings.
Officials familiar with the matter indicated that the investigation is revisiting transactions that have been under scrutiny for some time. Earlier action by the ED in 2024 had focused on claims that land designated for industrial purposes was allegedly repurposed for residential use, raising concerns over possible violations and money laundering.
Back-to-Back Action Raises Political Temperature
The latest searches come just days after the ED conducted similar operations against Ashok Mittal, a Rajya Sabha MP from the Aam Aadmi Party and Chancellor of Lovely Professional University. Those raids spanned multiple cities, including Jalandhar, Phagwara, and Gurugram, and covered both residential and business premises.
Among the locations examined were offices linked to Mittal’s business interests, as well as the university campus. During the operation, officials reportedly moved swiftly to secure records, focusing on financial data and transaction trails. Staff members were asked to assist investigators by providing access to files and digital systems.
Preliminary information suggests that the agency is examining possible financial discrepancies involving entities connected to Mittal and his family. Some documents and electronic data were reportedly taken into custody for further analysis.
While the ED has maintained silence on the specifics of both cases, the near-simultaneous actions involving two prominent figures linked to the ruling party in Punjab have drawn significant attention. Investigations in both matters are understood to be ongoing, with further developments expected in the coming days.
