Punjab Cabinet Minister Aman Arora on Friday, 9 May 2025, publicly accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Central government of orchestrating a politically motivated campaign against him, a day after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches on two real estate developers in Chandigarh. Arora, who also serves as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) state president in Punjab, rejected all allegations and demanded an investigation into what he called a deliberate manipulation of the ED's official communication.

Arora's Core Allegations

The minister termed the episode a reflection of the BJP's "politics of intimidation, arm-twisting and character assassination" aimed at targeting political opponents ahead of elections. His name had reportedly surfaced in connection with one of the accused real estate developers due to his alleged close friendship with Gaurav Dhir, at whose residence the ED also conducted searches. Arora categorically denied any connection to the alleged case, saying his name was dragged in "merely because of my friendship with Gaurav Dhir."

What Arora Says Happened That Day

The minister stated he was completely unaware of the ED raids on Thursday, as he had been attending to his mother, who has been admitted to the ICU for the past two weeks, before participating in departmental meetings. "I only came to know about the raids after receiving calls and videos from party colleagues and media persons during the meeting," he told reporters. He added that until around 3:30 pm, he had no information connecting him to the matter in any manner. He said he was shocked after seeing visuals of bags of currency notes being shown on television.

The Revised ED Statement Controversy

Arora raised a pointed allegation about the ED's official communication. He claimed the agency had initially issued a statement in which neither his name nor Gaurav Dhir's name appeared — only 'Gaurav Constructions' was mentioned. According to Arora, within half an hour, a second statement carrying the same content was issued, with the sole addition of his name in the last paragraph. "This clearly proves that my name was inserted later only to politically target and defame me," he said, demanding a thorough investigation into how and why the alleged manipulation took place.

Broader Political Context

The accusations come amid a sustained pattern of AAP-BJP friction, with the ruling party at the Centre and the AAP-led Punjab government frequently clashing over the deployment of central investigative agencies. AAP has consistently alleged that the ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) are being used selectively against its leaders and allies. The BJP has not yet formally responded to Arora's specific claims about the revised ED statement. The case involving the two real estate developers remains under active investigation, and the full scope of the ED's findings has not been officially disclosed.

With state elections on the horizon, the political temperature around central agency actions in AAP-governed states is unlikely to cool in the near term.