ED Raids Target AAP Leaders in FEMA Probe

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted a series of raids across Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh between April 15 and April 17, 2026, targeting high-ranking members of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The operations began on April 15 with searches at 10 locations linked to Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Kumar Mittal, including the Lovely Professional University in Phagwara, focusing on alleged violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) regarding overseas financial transactions.

On April 17, the ED expanded its investigation to 13 residences and offices linked to Punjab Industries Minister Sanjeev Arora and his son, Kavya Arora. This probe involves allegations of insider trading, fraudulent sales bookings via Hampton Sky Realty Ltd, and the round-tripping of betting funds from the United Arab Emirates. Investigators allege that business associates Hemanth Sood and Chandra Shekhar Aggarwal assisted in laundering money from hawala networks, while Arora reportedly provided political protection to betting operators for a share of the profits.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal condemned the actions as political harassment by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) intended to intimidate the opposition ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections. Mann described the raids as a murder of democracy and a typical Modi style of targeting the party. Sanjeev Arora stated he would fully cooperate with the agencies, expressing confidence that the truth would prevail.