The Enforcement Directorate (ED) launched a series of coordinated raids on Wednesday morning, targeting several locations tied to Aam Aadmi Party MP Ashok Mittal. The searches, which are part of an investigation into alleged financial irregularities, included the campus of Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Punjab, an institution closely associated with the Rajya Sabha member.
This high-profile move by the central agency comes shortly after Mittal’s political profile was elevated within the party, having recently taken over from Raghav Chadha as the AAP’s deputy leader in the Upper House.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the ED teams descended upon eight or nine distinct sites spanning Punjab and Gurugram. The operation was far-reaching, covering not only the university’s institutional grounds but also private residences, corporate offices, and a farmhouse linked to the Lovely group.
The investigation appears to be casting a wide net over the family’s various business interests. Alongside LPU, officials reportedly searched premises connected to Lovely Autos, Lovely Sweets, and the group’s distance learning arm. The homes of Mittal’s brothers, Ramesh and Naresh Mittal, were also included in the sweep.
While the ED has yet to release an official statement detailing the specific charges, insiders suggest the probe is centred on the suspected diversion of funds and accounting discrepancies within the university and its subsidiary entities. As the searches continue, the AAP has yet to provide a formal response to the day's developments.
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