Punjab's Industries Minister Sanjeev Arora has been sent to seven days of ED custody in a money laundering case by a court in Gurugram. Arora, 62, was
arrested on Saturday evening from his official residence in Chandigarh by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a GST fraud case following raids against him. Arora was brought by the ED sleuths to Gurugram, Haryana, from Chandigarh by road. The special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Gurugram sent Arora to seven-day ED custody. The agency had sought his 10-day remand, they said. The minister's lawyer called it a "politically motivated" case, saying that the ED registered the case on May 5 and arrested Arora on May 9. "An application was filed for a 10-day remand. A 7-day remand has been granted... The ED didn't actually investigate. They registered a case on May 5th and arrested him on the morning of May 9th. This is politically motivated and orchestrated. No investigation was conducted..." the lawyer was quoted as saying by ANI. He also says, "... They (ED) came directly and arrested the minister... We have not received the FIR to date. The ED filed this FIR during the search order... The court has set the date of 16th May for his reappearance, which will take place in Gurgaon," he added. The ED had also searched the premises of a company linked to Arora, Hampton Sky Realty Ltd, in Gurugram. The company said it had faith in the legal process and was fully cooperating with all the statutory authorities.
What Are The Charges Against Sanjeev Arora?
According to the ED, the probe under the PMLA pertains to "fake" GST purchases of mobile phones worth more than Rs 100 crore and subsequent exports to "round trip" alleged illegitimate funds from Dubai to India.
The agency alleged that multiple fake GST purchase invoices were acquired from "non-existing" firms in Delhi to falsely claim Input Tax Credit (ITC).
BJP vs AAP over Sanjeev Arora's Arrest
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal condemned the ED action, accusing the Centre of using agencies like the ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation as "weapons" to scare opposition leaders into joining the BJP.
The BJP hit back, saying Kejriwal and his party were rattled as they knew that "their days are numbered in Punjab".
(With agency inputs)
