Punjab Cabinet Minister Aman Arora on Friday alleged that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) was trying to defame him by linking his name to a raid conducted at several locations in Punjab and Chandigarh a day earlier. He said the agency unnecessarily dragged him into the investigation despite no direct involvement.
Arora, who also serves as the Punjab Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) president, said he was ready to cooperate with investigators. He urged the Central agency to summon him formally if it had any doubts or questions, adding that he had nothing to hide.
The ED carried out searches on Thursday as part of a money laundering investigation involving two real estate groups. The investigation relates to alleged fraudulent change of land use permissions and cheating of investors in a housing project.
According to officials, raids were conducted at nearly a dozen locations in Mohali (SAS Nagar) and Chandigarh connected to the Suntec City project, developed by the Indian Cooperative Housing Building Society (ICHBS). The searches also included premises linked to promoter Ajay Sehgal, ABS Townships, Altus Space Builders, Dhir Constructions and their associates under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The agency alleged that owner Gaurav Dhir of Dhir Constructions bought the Altus project through Suncity Projects for around Rs 130 crore by undervaluing the project cost. Investigators claimed that Dhir was a “close associate” of senior cabinet minister Aman Arora.
Speaking to reporters, Arora said he was shocked to see his name being linked with the ED’s action. He maintained that the initial statement issued by the agency did not mention either him or Gaurav Dhir. However, about half an hour later, the ED released another statement in which all details remained same except for the addition that Gaurav Dhir was a close associate of a senior AAP leader, Aman Arora. The minister alleged that the reference was deliberately inserted to tarnish his image.
Demanding an inquiry into the matter, Arora said he had heard the names of Suresh Kumar Bajaj, Ajay Sehgal and Nitin Gohal, whose premises were searched, for the first time only after the raids were reported. However, he openly acknowledged that Gaurav Dhir was like a brother to him and that the two had shared a friendship spanning more than two decades. He said personal relations should not be misinterpreted as business links.
Highlighting his political career, Arora said he had been active in public life since 1991 and claimed that he had never been involved in any wrongdoing or illegal activity.
Targeting the BJP, the minister alleged that Central agencies were often used as political tools in states heading towards elections by the BJP. He accused the ruling party at the Centre of trying to pressure opposition leaders through investigative actions.
Questioning the ED’s approach, Arora said the agency mentioned his friendship with Dhir but did not refer to an alleged donation of Rs 2.50 lakh made by Suresh Bajaj to the BJP during 2023–24. He asked why such details were omitted from the official statement. The minister reiterated that although Dhir was his friend, he had never entered into any business partnership or financial dealing with him.
Arora further said he had personally offered to appear before the ED and cooperate fully with the investigation. He even expressed willingness to hand over his mobile phone for forensic examination to clear any doubts.
"If they say that they could target me by involving a person who is doing clean business, then I feel that such politics in not in Punjab's interest," said Arora.
A day earlier, Arora had strongly criticised the BJP, alleging that its “politics of goondagardi” would not succeed in Punjab. He asserted that AAP leaders were not afraid of Central agencies or attempts to silence opposition voices through pressure tactics.
Also read: ED team continues raid at Kharar flat on Friday morning
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