ED action rattles Punjab AAP: Sanjeev Arora arrested, Aman Arora named in probe

The Enforcement Directorate intensified its crackdown in Punjab. Then, investigators arrested Punjab minister Sanjeev Arora from his Chandigarh residence after daylong searches across multiple cities. As a result, the Aam Aadmi Party now faces its sharpest political storm in Punjab since it came to power in 2022.

The arrest triggered strong reactions across the state. Outside government offices in Chandigarh and Ludhiana, party workers gathered in support of Arora. Meanwhile, opposition leaders demanded accountability and claimed the probe exposed deeper financial links within the ruling setup.

The ED targeted more than a dozen locations in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh during the operation. Investigators searched properties linked to Sanjeev Arora, his associates and Hampton Sky Realty Limited. Officials tied the action to an alleged ₹157-crore GST and export fraud case involving fake invoices and shell firms.

According to investigators, several companies allegedly created bogus transactions to claim tax refunds on mobile phone exports. Probe agencies also claimed that over ₹100 crore moved through Dubai-based entities. Earlier, officials had attached bank accounts, investment holdings and property assets linked to the case.

This marks the third ED action against Arora within a year. However, Saturday’s arrest pushed the matter into a major political confrontation.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann quickly accused the BJP-led Centre of using probe agencies to weaken rival governments. While addressing reporters in Sangrur, Mann claimed the BJP wanted to create fear among opposition leaders before the 2027 Punjab Assembly election.

He also linked the latest action to the recent exit of seven AAP Rajya Sabha MPs, who shifted to the BJP last month. Mann argued that central agencies suddenly stopped targeting some leaders after they switched camps. Through that remark, he attempted to frame the arrests as part of a larger political strategy rather than a purely legal process.

At the same time, another senior AAP leader, Punjab unit chief Aman Arora, also came under pressure. The ED recently named him in a separate land and money-laundering investigation linked to Mohali-based real estate projects.

That case gained attention after videos surfaced online showing bundles of currency notes allegedly thrown from a high-rise building during searches. The visuals quickly spread across Punjab and sparked heated political debate.

Aman Arora denied all allegations. He challenged investigators to examine his phone records and insisted that no evidence connected him to wrongdoing. His statement aimed to calm party workers who now fear more arrests ahead.

On the ground, political conversations in Punjab increasingly revolve around whether the BJP can expand its influence in the state. In cities like Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar, traders and businessmen closely watch the developments because both Sanjeev Arora and Aman Arora carry influence among urban Hindu voters.

That demographic remains politically significant. AAP built its 2022 landslide mainly through strong rural Sikh support. Later, the party elevated leaders like Sanjeev Arora to attract urban business communities that traditionally leaned towards the BJP or Congress.

Now, the ED action threatens that strategy.

Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia seized the moment to attack AAP. He reminded voters that AAP leaders earlier accused rival parties of misusing agencies but now face similar allegations themselves. His recent social media posts added further pressure on the ruling party.

Despite the controversy, AAP leaders continue to project unity. Mann recently passed a confidence motion in the Punjab Assembly and launched a statewide outreach campaign to reassure supporters.

Still, political observers believe the crisis has exposed serious cracks inside Punjab’s ruling establishment. With two senior ministers under scrutiny and several former allies now sitting with the BJP, AAP enters a difficult phase in the only state where it still holds power.