Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): In a significant political development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Punjab Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora in connection with an alleged money laundering case. The arrest followed a high-intensity raid at his residence that began early Wednesday morning. Witnesses reported seeing eight ED vehicles stationed outside the minister’s home during the operation, which marks a major escalation in the ongoing investigation into his financial dealings.
According to agency sources, the ED has uncovered an extensive financial network involving Arora’s companies. The central agency alleges that more than ₹100 crore worth of mobile phones were involved in a fraudulent GST procurement scheme. These devices were reportedly exported through Dubai to facilitate the rerouting of illegal earnings back into India. Investigators claim that GST invoices were fabricated using multiple shell firms based in Delhi to illicitly claim Input Tax Credit (ITC), GST refunds on exports, and duty drawbacks, resulting in substantial losses to the state exchequer.
Arora is considered a key figure in Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s cabinet, specifically overseeing portfolios related to industry and investment. He has been instrumental in coordinating policy between the state government and industrial leaders. This is not the first time the minister has faced scrutiny; in April 2026, his properties were raided under the civil provisions of FEMA. Furthermore, in 2024, he was investigated for a separate money laundering matter involving the alleged illegal conversion of industrial land into residential projects.
