ED conducts raid at former Punjab minister Sunder Sham Arora's residence
The Enforcement Directorate carried out a search operation at the Hoshiarpur home of the senior Congress leader on Monday morning.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted a search operation at the Hoshiarpur residence of senior Congress leader and former Punjab Cabinet Minister Sunder Sham Arora on Monday, according to ANI and The Tribune.
The operation began early on Monday morning with support from Central Reserve Police Force personnel. Officials from the ED's Chandigarh office reached the premises around 5 am and cordoned off the area before starting the search.
Arora's counsel, advocate HS Saini, said he met two officers who requested him to wait while the investigation was underway. Saini added that the officials had not disclosed the purpose of the search but had asked for certain documents.
This action follows a previous search by the Income Tax Department at Arora's residence that lasted approximately 62 hours. At that time, Arora stated the tax department's action was related to his son's property business and maintained that no illegalities were found.
In January 2023, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau registered a criminal case against Arora, Neelima, IAS, and 10 government officials. The case involves the transfer of an industrial plot to a realtor company, Gulmohar Township Private Limited, to establish a township.
The Vigilance Bureau spokesperson stated that the plot was originally allotted for industrial use in 1987. The state government reportedly incurred a financial loss of Rs 1,23,42,000 in the matter.