AAP questions timing of ED action against Punjab minister Arora

Amid the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) protests in Punjab against the BJP-led Centre over the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) action against the state Industries Minister Sanjeev Arora, the Arvind Kejriwal-led party on Monday (May 11) questioned the probe agency’s timing in the case ahead of the Assembly elections in the state early next year.

This comes after a court on Sunday remanded Arora to ED custody for a week in a money-laundering case linked to alleged fraudulent Goods and Services Tax (GST) transactions over Rs 100 crore.

Minister questions ED action

A senior AAP leader and minister from Punjab, seeking anonymity, told The Federal, ''Why ED action now?”

Also read: Fresh blow for AAP in Punjab as ED arrests state minister Sanjeev Arora in GST fraud case

The AAP leader said Arora was an MP, then contested Assembly elections to become an MLA, and subsequently became a minister.

“During this entire time, if there was something against him (Arora), why didn’t they (ED) take action?” the leader asked, adding that the action was initiated just a few months before the state is slated to go to the polls.

“They will get nothing from this. They cannot file a chargesheet. You will see in the end they will say there is no strong evidence in the case and he (Arora) will be discharged,” he claimed.

‘BJP cannot win Punjab’

Another AAP MLA from Amritsar alleged that the ED actions in Punjab were launched at the behest of the BJP ahead of next year’s Assembly elections, with the intention of creating fear in the minds of their political opponents.

Also read: ED raids Mohali IT professional’s home; Punjab govt denies links to Bhagwant Mann

“There is no space for fear in politics. Agar parcha nahi hai, toh charcha nahi hain (If there is no formal case, there is no discussion). They (BJP) are trying to create a fallacy that doesn’t exist in Punjab. They cannot win over Punjab,” claimed the Punjab legislator.

The AAP has staged protests in Punjab against Arora’s arrest by the ED. In the videos from Sunday, AAP supporters were seen burning effigies of the BJP government and carrying placards reading “ED-BJP gathjod murdabad”.

What is the case against Arora?

The case involves allegations of GST fraud and the "round-tripping" of funds through UAE-based shell entities. There are allegations against Arora that he used bogus invoices from non-existent Delhi-based firms to claim fraudulent GST refunds and Input Tax Credits (ITC).

Investigators allege over Rs 100 crore was routed through shell companies in Dubai and reintroduced into India as legitimate investments. Hampton Sky Realty has denied all allegations, claiming its mobile phone exports were legitimate and that it was a victim of "supplier-side fraud".

Arora, 62, was taken into custody under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) following raids conducted at his official residence in Chandigarh’s Sector 2 on Saturday (May 9) morning.