Chandigarh: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has claimed that a daily wage labourer emerged as the owner of a company allegedly linked to financial transactions involving Punjab cabinet minister Sanjeev Arora during its investigation into suspected money laundering activities.
The ED made the submission before a special PMLA court in Gurugram during a hearing held on Monday.
According to the agency, Arora-linked company Hampton Sky Realty Limited allegedly transferred Rs 27.73 crore to a Delhi-based firm whose registered owner turned out to be a daily wage labourer.
Labourer says he had no knowledge of company operations
The alleged owner, Kamal Ahmed, a resident of North Ghonda in Delhi, reportedly told ED officials that he was not highly educated and had no knowledge about companies or business operations.
According to his statement, a person identified as Azhar Haider alias Monty took his Aadhaar and PAN cards and also obtained his signatures on certain documents.
The ED claimed that Haider admitted he carried out such work on a commission basis of around 1.5 to 2 per cent.
ED alleges 41 RTGS transfers made to firm
Investigators alleged that between August 2023 and January 2024, Hampton Sky Realty Limited transferred Rs 27.73 crore into multiple bank accounts of SK Enterprises through 41 RTGS transactions.
The ED further alleged that the firm was effectively linked to a daily wage labourer acting as a front entity.
According to investigators, firms linked to the Arora family also showed sales of mobile phones worth Rs 157.12 crore to domestic and overseas companies.
Arora currently in ED custody
Sanjeev Arora is presently in ED remand in connection with the investigation.
He has also approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court challenging his arrest in the case.
