Aman Arora Linked to ED Probe Amid AAP Allegations of Political Vendetta

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches across multiple locations in Punjab and Chandigarh on May 7, 2026, as part of a money laundering investigation into two real estate groups. The agency is probing allegations of fraudulent Change of Land Use (CLU) permissions and the duping of investors.

During the operation, the federal agency identified Gaurav Dhir of Dhir Constructions, one of the businessmen under investigation, as a close associate of Aman Arora, who serves as a Cabinet minister and the Punjab unit chief of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

ED officials carried out searches at at least 12 different locations across Patiala, Chandigarh, and Mohali. These raids targeted entities and individuals linked to the Suntec City project, which was developed by the Indian Cooperative Housing Building Society (ICHBS). Other targets of the searches included promoter Ajay Sehgal, as well as ABS Townships, Altus Space Builders, and Dhir Constructions and its associates.

The investigation is being conducted under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The agency recovered approximately ₹1 crore in cash during the searches.

ED officials reported a specific incident at the Western Towers in the Kharar area, where ₹21 lakh in cash, consisting of ₹500 denomination notes, was thrown from a window onto the ground. Search parties subsequently recovered the scattered currency.

The raids have sparked a political confrontation in the state. Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira issued a statement attacking the AAP leadership, alleging that the investigation centers on a significant financial fraud. Khaira claimed that a specific property project was purchased for approximately ₹300 crore but was recorded on paper as costing only ₹130 crore.

According to Khaira, this discrepancy resulted in an undervaluation of nearly ₹170 crore. He further alleged that the ED raids included two brokers, identified as Pritpal Singh Dhindsa and Nitin, who he claimed were involved in arranging political patronage and were linked to individuals close to the Chief Minister’s Office.

Aman Arora responded to the developments on May 8, 2026, through a statement on X, denying any wrongdoing and characterizing the ED’s actions as political targeting.

I have learnt…that my name has been dragged into today’s ED raids. My entire life has been, is, and will always remain completely above board. I will neither be intimidated nor silenced by the BJP’s false propaganda and politics of vendetta.

Aman Arora

Arora further alleged that the central government uses federal agencies as political instruments to pressure opposition leaders who refuse to submit to the ruling party.

It has become evident before the entire country that the BJP uses central agencies as political tools to target opposition leaders. Whenever any leader or party refuses to bow before the BJP, agencies like the ED and CBI are unleashed against them.

Aman Arora

The AAP leader described the agency’s actions as BJP’s politics of goondagardi and stated that the raids exposed the growing desperation of the BJP-led Centre to crush its political rivals through fear.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann denied any connection between the Aam Aadmi Party and the ongoing money laundering probe. Mann asserted that the operation conducted by the central agency has nothing to do with us (AAP).