Chandigarh: Days after the arrest of Punjab minister Sanjeev Arora in a money laundering case, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has now issued a notice to Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) chairman-cum-managing director Basant Garg.
The case is linked to allegations that a private company associated with Arora was allegedly given undue benefit through the illegal return of a bank guarantee worth crores of rupees.
Sources said the ED has directed the PSPCL chief to appear before the agency next week along with all relevant records and files related to the matter.
Confirming the notice, Basant Garg said PSPCL would fully cooperate with the investigation and provide all documents sought by the agency.
The controversy revolves around the Hampton Court Business Park project in Ludhiana.
According to sources, in 2023, when Sanjeev Arora was serving as a Rajya Sabha MP, his company Ritesh Properties and Industries Limited applied to PSPCL for enhancement of electricity load capacity. As per regulations, the company deposited a bank guarantee of ₹1.97 crore valid till 2028.
Later in 2025, after Arora became an MLA through a bypoll and was subsequently appointed Punjab’s power minister in the Aam Aadmi Party government, the company again applied for a change in voltage supply.
PSPCL had reportedly informed the company that the earlier bank guarantee would only be returned after submission of a fresh guarantee worth ₹1.87 crore. The ED is now examining whether any procedural violations or undue favours were involved in the process.
