Punjab Minister Sanjeev Arora moves High Court, calls ED arrest unconstitutional
Synopsis
Punjab Industries Minister Sanjeev Arora, arrested by the ED on May 9 under PMLA, has moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court calling his arrest arbitrary and unconstitutional. With Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann accusing the BJP of weaponising central agencies, the case is shaping into a direct confrontation between the AAP government and the Centre.
Key Takeaways
Punjab Industries Minister Sanjeev Arora was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on 9 May 2025 from his official residence in Chandigarh .
Arora moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday , calling the arrest
Arrested Punjab Industries Minister Sanjeev Arora on Tuesday moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court, challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) as
Point of View
21, and 22 — could have implications beyond this case, given ongoing judicial debate about the agency's arrest powers post the Supreme Court's Vijay Madanlal Choudhary ruling. Bhagwant Mann's combative X post, invoking Bhagat Singh and Aurangzeb, signals that the Aam Aadmi Party intends to fight this politically as much as legally. The real question is whether the ED can demonstrate that its third search of Arora's premises in a year has produced actionable evidence — or whether the courts will find procedural overreach.
NationPress
2 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Punjab Minister Sanjeev Arora arrested by the ED?
Sanjeev Arora was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on 9 May 2025 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) of 2002. The arrest follows a money laundering case linked to the alleged conversion of industrial land for residential projects, a matter that first drew ED scrutiny in 2024 when Arora was a Rajya Sabha MP.
What has Sanjeev Arora argued in the Punjab and Haryana High Court?
Arora has petitioned the High Court arguing that his arrest was arbitrary, mechanical, without jurisdiction, and in violation of constitutional safeguards under Articles 14, 21, and 22. He has sought immediate release from what he termed illegal and unconstitutional custody, and asked the court to stay the arrest and set aside the consequential remand.
How long has Arora been remanded to ED custody?
The Judge-cum-Special Judge (PMLA) in Gurugram remanded Arora to ED custody until 16 May 2025. His petition before the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeks to overturn this remand.
What did Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann say about the arrest?
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann accused the BJP of misusing central agencies, noting in a post on X that the ED had visited Arora's residence three times in one year without finding anything. Mann also stated that Punjab would never bow before what he called the unethical alliance of the ED and the BJP.
Who is hearing Arora's petition in the High Court?
A bench comprising Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry of the Punjab and Haryana High Court is hearing the petition filed by Sanjeev Arora challenging his ED arrest.
