CHANDIGARH/LUDHIANA, APRIL 17 — The Enforcement Directorate (ED) initiated a series of coordinated searches on Friday morning at multiple locations linked to Punjab Industries Minister Sanjeev Arora. The operations commenced around 6:30 a.m. across Chandigarh, Ludhiana, and Delhi, involving the minister’s private residence, official offices, and properties belonging to his family and business associates.
The timing of the searches coincided with the minister’s departure for Europe, where he is representing the state as part of the “Invest Punjab” initiative. This program is designed to secure foreign investment for the region, with several other high-ranking state officials and the Chief Minister scheduled for similar international travel in the coming days.
Arora, who previously faced a probe by the central agency in 2024, acknowledged the presence of the investigators at his properties. He stated that he had no immediate information regarding the specifics of the search and affirmed that his workplaces were currently being accessed by the teams. He declared that he had no further comments at this stage of the proceedings.
Central armed police forces provided security for the operation, while the Punjab Police were not utilized for the task. The Enforcement Directorate has yet to issue a formal statement regarding the specific allegations or the nature of the financial probe.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has responded to the development by characterizing the action as an attempt to exert political pressure. AAP National Spokesperson Anurag Dhanda noted that this is the second instance of a minister being targeted by the agency within a single week. He asserted that such actions are an effort to undermine the state’s leadership. Conversely, Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu reacted to the news via social media, suggesting that accountability would be sought in the matter.
