Chose jail over joining BJP: Arvind Kejriwal praises Punjab Minister arrested by ED

Arvind Kejriwal said Punjab minister Sanjeev Arora was arrested by the ED after refusing to join the BJP. The arrest has sharpened the AAP-BJP confrontation, with the agency alleging a Rs 100 crore GST-linked laundering case.

In Short

• Punjab minister Sanjeev Arora arrested by ED in Rs 100 crore GST fraud case
• AAP chief Kejriwal claims arrest due to refusal to join BJP
• AAP alleges central agencies misused under 'Operation Lotus' to weaken opposition

A day after Punjab minister Sanjeev Arora was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case linked to alleged fraudulent GST transactions worth over Rs 100 crore, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal claimed the minister was targeted for refusing to join the BJP.

Turning the arrest into a direct political attack on the ruling party at the Centre, Kejriwal praised Arora for “choosing jail over BJP” and accused central agencies of being used to pressure opposition leaders.

“A person’s character is revealed in times of trouble. Sanjiv Arora preferred going to jail over joining the BJP. Salute to him,” the former Delhi Chief Minister wrote in Hindi in a post on X on Sunday.

AAP LINKS ARREST TO ‘OPERATION LOTUS’

The arrest triggered sharp reactions from AAP leaders in Punjab, who alleged that the BJP was attempting to weaken opposition parties through central agencies.

Punjab minister Harbhajan Singh ETO claimed the Enforcement Directorate and CBI were being misused to intimidate opposition leaders into switching sides.

“This is an attempt to intimidate people into joining the BJP under ‘Operation Lotus’, which we strongly condemn,” he said.

The AAP MLA from Jandiala also claimed similar political tactics had earlier been used in West Bengal.

“The same tactics used in Bengal are now being tried in Punjab to grab power, but the people of Punjab will not let this happen,” he said, adding that protests against the arrest were being held across the country.

KEJRIWAL TARGETS BJP OVER SUVENDU ADHIKARI

Kejriwal also took aim at the BJP over newly sworn-in West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, claiming leaders once accused of corruption by the BJP later escaped investigation after joining the party.

“The Prime Minister himself had accused Suvendu Adhikari of corruption, and today he administered the oath of office for the CM position to the very same Suvendu Adhikari,” Kejriwal wrote on X.

“The ED will not go after Suvendu Adhikari. The ED will take action against Sanjeev Arora, Arvind Kejriwal, and Manish Sisodia,” he added.

ED CASE AGAINST SANJEEV ARORA

Meanwhile, a special court in Gurugram sent Arora to seven days of Enforcement Directorate custody in connection with the alleged money laundering case.

The ED arrested the Punjab minister on Saturday from Chandigarh and later produced him before the court while seeking custodial interrogation.

According to the agency, the case stems from alleged fraudulent GST transactions exceeding Rs 100 crore.

The Enforcement Directorate carried out day-long searches at four premises linked to Arora, including his residence, business entities and an office belonging to Hampton Sky Realty Limited (HSRL), which is under the agency’s scanner.

The probe is based on an Enforcement Case Information Report registered on May 5.

ED CLAIMS COMPANY LINKED TO ARORA FAMILY

According to the ED, HSRL is “beneficially owned and controlled” by Sanjeev Arora and his family members.

The agency claimed Kavya Arora, son of Sanjeev Arora, serves as the company’s Managing Director alongside Hemant Sood, Chander Sekhar, Findoc Finvest Pvt Ltd and others.

Investigators alleged that HSRL sold mobile phones worth Rs 157.12 crore during the 2023-24 financial year to several local and overseas entities.

“Sanjeev Arora was the Chairman and Managing Director of HSRL and was responsible for the conduct of the business of the company when the aforesaid illicit transactions took place,” the ED alleged in its remand application.

The arrest has now escalated into yet another political confrontation between AAP and the BJP, with the ruling party at the Centre yet to respond to Kejriwal’s allegations.

- Ends