Phagwara, Apr 15 — The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday carried out searches at Lovely Professional University (LPU) and multiple premises linked to AAP Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Kumar Mittal, in a probe into alleged violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), officials said.
The searches were conducted by teams from Jalandhar and Chandigarh across locations associated with the Lovely Group, including the university campus, business establishments, a distance education centre, and residences of the promoters. “The federal agency has sought no assistance from the local police,” an official said.
The development comes days after Mittal replaced Raghav Chadha as AAP’s deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha, a move that had drawn attention within political circles. Mittal, founder and chancellor of LPU, owns the group along with his brothers Ramesh Mittal and Naresh Mittal.
Reacting earlier to the leadership change, Mittal had said, “Raghav Chadha is our senior leader and will continue to remain so. I have taken over from him just as he took over from ND Gupta earlier. AAP is a democratic party and believes in giving opportunities to different leaders to raise important issues.”
Following Wednesday’s raids, AAP leaders linked the action to political developments, accusing the BJP-led GOI of targeting opposition figures ahead of elections in Punjab.
Former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said, “Modi ji has started preparations for the elections in Punjab. But the people of Punjab will not tolerate this. They will give a befitting reply to the BJP.”
Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann also criticised the move, posting on X: “ED raids at the home and university of AAP Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Mittal… typical Modi style…”