Chandigarh: Ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, Aman Arora has come under political scrutiny following Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids linked to an alleged money laundering case.
The ED has claimed that money laundering accused Gaurav Dhir is closely associated with the AAP leader. Responding to the allegations during a press conference in Chandigarh, Arora admitted that Dhir is his friend but denied having any involvement in his business activities.
“If the ED wants to reach me, I challenge them to call me for questioning. Check my mobile phone. I have nothing to do with any wrongdoing,” Arora said.
He also questioned whether the ED was aware that Suntec City accused Suresh Bajaj had allegedly donated Rs 2.5 lakh to the BJP in 2023.
ED raids continue in Mohali real estate case
Meanwhile, ED raids at two real estate groups in Mohali continued for over 32 hours. One of the key figures under scrutiny is IT businessman Nitin Gohil, a resident of the Western Towers Society in Mohali.
Opposition parties have alleged that Gohil shares close ties with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s OSD Rajbir Singh Ghumman.
Late on Thursday evening, the ED issued a press note stating that cash worth Rs 1 crore had been recovered during the raids. The case drew major attention after bags allegedly containing cash were reportedly thrown from the ninth floor of the society building during the raid. One of the bags burst open, sending Rs 500 currency notes flying in the air.
According to the ED, the case involves fraudulent acquisition of Change of Land Use (CLU) approvals, cheating of landowners and buyers worth crores of rupees, and money laundering.
CM Bhagwant Mann rejects opposition allegations
Reacting to opposition allegations linking the accused to his OSD, Bhagwant Mann said in Amritsar that those raided had no connection with his government.
“The ED has come in connection with an old case. We have nothing to do with them,” Mann said.
However, opposition leaders alleged that the recovered cash belonged to CM’s OSD Rajbir Ghumman, questioning the AAP government’s claims of “honest politics”.
Aman Arora says his name was added later
Explaining how he came to know about the raids, Aman Arora said his mother has been admitted to Fortis Hospital for the past two weeks and he was travelling to MAGSIPA when an acquaintance informed him about the developments.
“I was shocked to see bags of cash being thrown down. Later I came to know that raids had taken place at Gaurav Dhir’s residence,” he said.
Arora further claimed that the ED initially issued a statement mentioning Dhir Construction but not Gaurav Dhir or his own name.
“In the second statement, a line mentioning Gaurav Dhir was added in the last paragraph. Later, my name also got dragged into it only to defame me,” he alleged.
