Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday conducted raids at multiple locations linked to Punjab Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora ahead of the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections. The searches were carried out at his government residence in Chandigarh’s Sector 2, along with premises in Delhi and Gurugram.
According to sources, around 15 ED vehicles reached the minister’s official residence early in the morning and the entire area was sealed off. CRPF personnel were deployed outside the house, and entry or exit from the premises was restricted during the operation.
Officials said this is the third ED action against Arora within a year and the second raid in the past month. ED sources revealed that search operations are underway at four locations, including the office of Hampton Sky Realty Limited.
As per the investigation agency, preliminary findings suggest that mobile phone purchases worth over Rs 100 crore were allegedly shown through fake GST invoices by a company linked to Arora. The agency suspects the transactions were used for large-scale money laundering activities.
ED officials further alleged that the accused entities used exports to facilitate illegal round-tripping of funds from Dubai to India. The probe has also uncovered the alleged use of fake GST purchase bills from non-existent firms based in Delhi to claim fraudulent Input Tax Credit (ITC), GST refunds on exports, and duty drawback benefits.
Investigators claim the alleged fraud caused significant losses to the government exchequer while generating illegal financial gains for those involved.
This fresh action comes amid heightened political tension, as Chief Minister reacting on social media platform X alleged that the ED action was politically motivated. He claimed that it was the third time in a year and the second time in a month that the minister’s residence had been searched, adding that “nothing has been recovered so far.”
In a strongly worded statement, the Chief Minister also criticized the central government, accusing it of misusing investigative agencies. He remarked that Punjab, known as the land of Gurus and martyrs like Bhagat Singh, would not bow to pressure or intimidation.
Earlier, on Thursday, the ED had also conducted coordinated raids at around 12 locations across Mohali and Chandigarh in connection with a separate investigation. One of the searches was carried out at an IT entrepreneur’s residence in the Western Towers Society, Chhajju Majra, Mohali.
