The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on May 9, 2026 arrested Punjab Industries Minister and Ludhiana West MLA Sanjeev Arora (62). ED carried out searches at four locations connected to Arora and his entities under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The raids were conducted in Chandigarh and the Delhi-NCR region, and the minister was arrested from his official residence in Chandigarh’s Sector 2.
This is the third time Arora has been raided this year, with similar action being taken against him earlier this month and in April. The fresh ED move has intensified the political confrontation between the AAP government in Punjab and the BJP-led Centre. AAP Convenor Arvind Kejriwal blamed BJP and Prime Minister over the raids. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also criticised the BJP, saying agencies like the ED, CBI and Income Tax Department were being used as “political weapons” and their activities intensify in states that are heading into elections. Assembly polls in Punjab will be held next year.
