ED raids Punjab minister Sanjeev Arora; BJP vows public will act at polls
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted extensive search operations against Punjab Industry Minister Sanjeev Arora under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, with Arora reportedly arrested following the raids. The action triggered sharp political reactions from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Indian National Congress (INC), and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) itself, with each party staking out contrasting positions on the alleged corruption.
What the ED Action Revealed
Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha of the BJP alleged that as much as ₹21 lakh in cash was thrown in a bag from a balcony during the ED raid. He further alleged round-tripping of funds through companies registered in the UAE, Canada, and Australia. Chadha also claimed that the AAP government in Punjab carries a debt burden of ₹5 lakh crore. These allegations have not been independently verified and are attributed to the BJP leader.
BJP's Political Warning to AAP
The BJP used the occasion to mount a broader political offensive against the AAP-led Punjab government. Chadha said:
