Chandigarh: Sanjeev Arora, a minister in the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab, has been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case.
The ED conducted raids at Arora’s official residence in Chandigarh’s Sector 2 on Saturday while the minister was present at the premises. Officials reportedly questioned him for nearly 10 hours before taking him into custody around 5 pm.
He was later taken to Delhi in vehicles bearing Chandigarh and Haryana registration numbers and produced before a court in Gurugram during the night.
The court granted the ED seven days’ custody of the minister. He will now be produced before the court again on May 16.
AAP workers stage protests across Punjab
Following the arrest, AAP workers launched protests in several parts of Punjab.
In Ludhiana, clashes and scuffles were reported between AAP and BJP workers. Protesters also burnt an effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and hit it with shoes during demonstrations.
In Jalandhar, AAP workers raised slogans accusing the BJP of using the ED for political purposes.
Meanwhile, in Amritsar, protesters gathered outside the residence of BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh, where some demonstrators reportedly broke through police barricades.
Ravneet Bittu warns AAP leaders
Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu issued a strong warning to AAP leaders and workers over the protests.
“If you behave like hooligans or indulge in violence, you will be dealt with strictly,” Bittu said, while also warning the Punjab DGP of action if police failed to act against AAP MLAs and workers involved in the incidents.
Kejriwal accuses Centre of misusing agencies
AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal alleged that central agencies were being misused under the Modi government.
“Prime Minister Modi is being unfair to the people of Punjab. The ED is being used to break political parties, not to catch money laundering accused,” Kejriwal said while reacting to Arora’s arrest.
