Chandigarh, May 09 — The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday arrested Punjab minister Sanjeev Arora after carrying out searches at multiple locations linked to him in Chandigarh, Delhi and Gurugram in connection with a money laundering case.
Arora, who holds the Power, Industries, Investment Promotion and Local Government portfolios in the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government, was taken into custody following a prolonged search operation at his official residence in Chandigarh’s Sector 2.
According to ED officials, the case pertains to alleged fake GST purchases of mobile phones worth more than Rs 100 crore and the subsequent routing of funds from Dubai to India through exports.
“ED had detected a case of large-scale money laundering allegedly carried out by Sanjeev Arora through his company involving fake GST purchases of mobile phones worth more than Rs 100 crore and subsequent exports used to round-trip illegitimate funds from Dubai to India,” an ED official said.
The agency said fake GST purchase bills were allegedly procured from non-existent firms in Delhi to claim fraudulent input tax credit (ITC), GST refunds on exports and duty drawback benefits.
“Multiple fake GST purchase bills were obtained from non-existing firms in Delhi to claim fake ITC, refund of GST on export credit and duty drawback, thereby causing loss to the exchequer and personal enrichment,” the official added.
ED sources said searches were conducted at five locations, including the office premises of Hampton Sky Realty Limited, a company promoted by Arora’s family, besides his residence.
Officials said around 20 ED personnel arrived at the minister’s residence early Saturday morning in multiple vehicles. The latest operation marks the third round of searches involving the AAP leader, with another raid having been conducted less than a month ago.
Arora is considered among the most influential ministers in the Punjab Cabinet and is seen as a key link between the Aam Aadmi Party government and the industrial sector in the state.
Meanwhile, the AAP leadership, including party national convener Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, publicly backed Arora following the arrest.