NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate on Friday carried out searches at premises linked to Punjab industries minister Sanjeev Arora. The raids were carried out at multiple locations connected to Arora in Ludhiana and elsewhere as part of an ongoing investigation, officials said. The AAP leader had also faced agency action in 2024, when the ED alleged that companies linked to him and others caused losses to the state exchequer and generated large proceeds of crime through the alleged misuse of industrial land for residential projects.Ex-Delhi CM and AAP supremo Arvid Kejriwal criticised the raids, noting that it marked the second raid on an Aam Aadmi Party leader within three days. Writing on X, he questioned whether any “black money” had actually been recovered in the numerous raids targeting AAP figures. Reacting to the development, senior AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj wrote on X: “ED has now raided Punjab Minister Sanjeev Arora. This is a clear pattern. This is how BJP starts its preparation for a state election.” His remarks come amid back-to-back action involving AAP figures in Punjab over the past two days.Earlier this week, the ED conducted searches at the residence of AAP Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Kumar Mittal in Jalandhar, along with premises linked to his educational institutions in Punjab and Haryana under FEMA provisions. The raid drew attention as it came soon after Mittal was appointed the party’s deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha, replacing Raghav Chadha.
