New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday accused the BJP-led Center of using central agencies for political purposes following fresh searches by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case involving alleged fake GST transactions of over Rs 100 crore involving Punjab Industries Minister Sanjiv Arora.The ED conducted raids at five locations in Delhi, Gurugram and Chandigarh, including Arora’s official residence in Chandigarh and premises linked to his associates and companies. Officials said the search was initiated under criminal provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in a newly registered case.According to the agency, Arora and related entities are accused of preparing fake purchase bills of mobile phones through allegedly non-existent firms based in Delhi. Investigators suspect that fraudulent transactions were used to claim false input tax credit (ITC), GST refunds and export benefits. The ED also alleged that the money was routed through exports and later “round-tripped” from Dubai to India to launder the ill-gotten gains.Arora, 62, is the AAP MLA from Ludhiana West and serves as the power and industries minister in the government led by Bhagwant Maan.

AAP alleges political vendetta

AAP leaders strongly criticized the raid, calling it politically motivated ahead of the Punjab assembly elections scheduled in early 2027.Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann claimed that this was the third ED visit to Arora’s premises in a year and the second within a month.In a post on X, Mann wrote, “Today once again BJP’s ED has come to Sanjeev Arora’s house. This is the third time in a year that BJP’s ED has come to his house. And second time in the last one month. Still they found nothing. I want to tell Modi ji that Punjab is the land of Gurus, which even Aurangzeb could not subdue.”Addressing a press conference in Sangrur, Mann accused the BJP of using agencies like ED, CBI and Income Tax Department as “weapons” against the opposition-ruled states.Mann said, “By conducting the ED raid, their aim is not to find any black money or any illegal document, their aim is to send a message to the person whose premises have been raided that he should join the BJP and whatever he has done will be forgiven.”Punjab AAP president Aman Arora also attacked the Centre, saying, “I want to tell the BJP, ED, CBI and the central government that Punjab is the land of gurus and Bhagat Singh. I ask them to stop their actions.”The latest action comes weeks after the ED raided Arora and related entities under FEMA provisions and attached properties allegedly linked to fraudulent sales and exports worth Rs 157.12 crore. Arora had earlier said that he would cooperate fully with investigators and expressed confidence that “the truth will prevail”.