CHANDIGARH, July 16 — In the high-profile Jalandhar corruption case, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has granted interim protection from arrest to Rajan Arora, son of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Raman Arora, until September 24. The court, while hearing the matter on Monday, directed Rajan to cooperate fully with the Punjab Vigilance Bureau’s investigation but restrained the police from taking him into custody during this period.
The court’s order comes amid growing scrutiny of the alleged extortion racket involving senior officials of the Jalandhar Municipal Corporation and political figures. Rajan Arora, named as one of the key accused, has been evading arrest since the case surfaced.
“Rajan Arora shall not be arrested till the next date of hearing, provided he cooperates with the investigation,” the court observed, granting temporary reprieve but under strict conditions.
His father, Raman Arora, the sitting MLA from Jalandhar Central, was arrested by the Vigilance Bureau on May 23 and remains in judicial custody in Patiala jail. A local court in Jalandhar had earlier rejected his regular bail plea on July 11. Following the denial, his legal team approached the High Court seeking relief for Rajan.
The case revolves around what investigators allege to be a systematic corruption and extortion operation within the Jalandhar Municipal Corporation. According to the Punjab Vigilance Bureau, MLA Raman Arora and Assistant Town Planner (ATP) Sukhdev Vashisht routinely targeted under-construction and completed commercial and residential buildings. The accused allegedly served fabricated violation notices to builders and demanded bribes in return for withdrawal or settlement of these notices.
Vigilance officials say the network extended beyond municipal staff. Along with Rajan Arora, the names of Raman’s father-in-law Rajju Madan and close associate Mahesh Makhija have also emerged in the probe. So far, ATP Sukhdev Vashisht, building inspector Harpreet Kaur, and Mahesh Makhija have been arrested.
While several co-accused are already in custody, Rajan Arora remains untraceable. Authorities maintain that efforts to apprehend him will continue unless he presents himself in compliance with the court’s direction.
The matter will next come up for hearing in September, even as the vigilance probe continues to widen its scope.
