Punjab Minister Sanjeev Arora Sent to 7-Day ED Custody in GST Fraud Case

Punjab Industries Minister Sanjeev Arora has been sent to seven-day ED custody by a court in Gurugram in a money laundering case, officials said on Sunday. The 62-year-old minister was arrested on Saturday evening at his official residence in Chandigarh by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a GST fraud case following raids against him.

The ED alleges that Arora was involved in fake GST purchases of mobile phones worth over ₹100 crore and subsequent exports to allegedly round-trip illegitimate funds from Dubai to India. The agency also claims that multiple fake GST purchase invoices were acquired from non-existing firms in Delhi to falsely claim Input Tax Credit (ITC).

The central agency had searched the premises of a company linked to Arora, Hampton Sky Realty Ltd, in Gurugram, and the company has stated that it has faith in the legal process and is fully cooperating with all statutory authorities.

The Minister's lawyer has claimed that the case is politically motivated, while Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal have condemned the ED action, accusing the Centre of using agencies like the ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation as weapons to scare opposition leaders into joining the BJP.

The court will resume hearing on the case after the seven-day ED custody period, and the ED is expected to continue its investigation into the allegations against Arora.