Akali Dal demands ED probe against Punjab AAP MLA Prashar over ₹1.10 crore corruption
Synopsis
SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia has levelled serious corruption charges against Punjab AAP MLA Ashok Kumar Pappi Prashar, alleging a ₹1.10 crore job scam and money laundering through a PA's account — with the PA himself now claiming he was threatened, beaten, and has had a false case registered against him.
Key Takeaways
SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia demanded an ED probe against Ludhiana (Central) AAP MLA Ashok Kumar Pappi Prashar on Monday.
MLA Prashar allegedly collected ₹1.10 crore from 126 people (87 for municipal jobs + 39 for clerk posts) through PA Nikhil Sabharwal , none of whom received employment.
On 8 March 2024 , ₹90 lakh was reportedly deposited into Sabharwal's account from a Canada-based person, with funds allegedly transferred to the MLA's wife Meenu Prashar .
On 24 April 2024 , building inspector Harminder Singh Makkar allegedly deposited ₹30 lakh in Sabharwal's account; ₹15 lakh was reportedly transferred to Prashar's account the next day.
PA Nikhil Sabharwal alleged he was threatened, beaten, had his phone snatched, and has since had a police case registered against him; he demanded the probe be handed to a central agency.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia on Monday demanded an Enforcement Directorate (ED) probe against Punjab Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislator Ashok Kumar Pappi Prashar for alleged large-scale corruption, including money laundering reportedly conducted through the bank account of his personal assistant. The allegations were made at a press conference in Chandigarh.
The Job Scam Allegation
Majithia alleged that Ludhiana (Central) MLA Prashar used his personal assistant Nikhil Sabharwal as a front man to collect ₹1.10 crore from 87 people who were promised contractual appointments in the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation and 39 people who were to be appointed as clerks. According to Majithia, forged selection lists were shown to the candidates to make them believe they had been selected for the posts.
Point of View
Amounts, account trails, and a named PA willing to go on record — which lifts them above routine political mudslinging. The more troubling detail is the claim that Ludhiana police have filed a case against Sabharwal immediately after Majithia's public disclosure, a pattern that critics of incumbent governments across states have flagged as witness intimidation. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's AAP government, which swept to power in 2022 on an anti-corruption plank, faces a credibility test: the party's own legislators now stand accused of the very transactional politics AAP promised to dismantle. Whether the ED or CBI takes cognisance will signal how seriously the Centre — and the courts — treat the complaint.
NationPress
12 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the corruption allegations against Punjab AAP MLA Ashok Kumar Pappi Prashar?
SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia has alleged that Ludhiana (Central) MLA Prashar collected ₹1.10 crore from 126 job-seekers through his PA Nikhil Sabharwal, issued forged selection lists, and laundered money through Sabharwal's account into the accounts of his wife and son. None of the job-seekers reportedly received employment.
Who is Nikhil Sabharwal and what is his role in the case?
Nikhil Sabharwal was MLA Prashar's personal assistant from 2022, earning ₹13,000 per month. He alleges the MLA directed him to collect money from job-seekers and that he was subsequently threatened, beaten, and had his phone snatched. He claims to have sold his own house for ₹30 lakh to partially refund the victims, and a police case has reportedly now been registered against him.
What specific money laundering transactions has Majithia alleged?
Majithia alleged two key transactions: on 8 March 2024, ₹90 lakh was deposited in Sabharwal's account from a Canada-based individual, with funds transferred to MLA Prashar's wife Meenu Prashar; and on 24 April 2024, building inspector Harminder Singh Makkar deposited ₹30 lakh, of which ₹15 lakh was allegedly transferred to Prashar's account the next day.
Why has Majithia demanded a CBI probe in addition to an ED probe?
Majithia argued that a fair investigation is impossible under the current Punjab government, particularly after Ludhiana police allegedly registered a case against Sabharwal immediately following Majithia's public disclosure. He contended that only a central agency — either the ED or CBI — can conduct an impartial probe.
What is the political significance of these allegations?
AAP came to power in Punjab in 2022 on a strong anti-corruption platform. Allegations of large-scale corruption against one of its own MLAs represent a significant political challenge for Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's government, and provide the opposition SAD with a high-profile accountability issue ahead of future electoral cycles.
