ED raids AAP MP Mittal’s house, Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann react

April 15, 2026

The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday carried out raids at multiple premises linked to Ashok Mittal, a Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament from Punjab and a prominent educationist.

The searches were conducted by teams that arrived from Delhi and targeted locations associated with the Lovely Group in Jalandhar and Phagwara. Officials confirmed that the investigation is being undertaken in connection with alleged violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, though detailed findings are yet to be made public as the investigation is ongoing.

The raids covered a wide network of institutions and businesses linked to Mittal, including Lovely Professional University, one of India’s largest private universities, as well as Lovely Autos, Lovely Sweets, and the Lovely Distance Education Centre. In addition to commercial establishments, residential premises connected to his family members were also searched, including those of his brothers Ramesh Mittal and Naresh Mittal.

Multi-site raids highlight probe scale, Mittal’s journey from educationist to AAP leader

Officials were accompanied by central security forces and conducted simultaneous searches across multiple sites, indicating the scale and seriousness of the probe.

Ashok Mittal, who is the founder chancellor of Lovely Professional University, has long been known as an industrialist-turned-politician.

A native of Jalandhar, he is also a chartered accountant and a law graduate from Guru Nanak Dev University. Over the years, he has received several recognitions in the field of education, including the Punjab Gaurav Award and National Education Excellence Awards.

His entry into politics under the banner of the Aam Aadmi Party marked a significant transition from academia and business to public service.

The development comes at a time when Mittal has recently taken on a more prominent political role. He was appointed as the deputy leader of the Aam Aadmi Party in the Rajya Sabha, replacing Raghav Chadha.

The party officially communicated this decision to the Rajya Sabha secretariat, and the change was reflected on the official records shortly thereafter. Both Mittal and Chadha represent Punjab in the Upper House, and the AAP currently has ten members in the Rajya Sabha.
The sudden replacement of Chadha sparked political speculation, with opposition leaders suggesting internal differences within the party. The Bharatiya Janata Party alleged that Chadha had distanced himself from the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal, the party’s national convener.

Political reactions

Reacting strongly to the raids, Arvind Kejriwal alleged that the move was politically motivated, stating that the BJP had begun preparations for Punjab elections but “people of Punjab will not tolerate this and will give a befitting reply.”

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also targeted the Centre, calling the ED action “typical Modi pattern.” In a sharp post, he suggested that agencies were being misused ahead of elections and warned political opponents against crossing limits, saying such tactics would ultimately backfire.

However, AAP leaders have dismissed such claims, describing the move as part of routine organizational restructuring. Mittal himself stated that the transition was a normal process and emphasized that the party believes in giving different leaders opportunities to represent key issues.
Meanwhile, Chadha addressed the situation publicly, questioning whether he had done anything wrong, but refrained from making any direct allegations.

Congress leader Amarinder Singh Raja Warring also weighed in, suggesting that Chadha appeared to be increasingly distanced from party activities, pointing to his absence from several major public events led by Kejriwal.

Within the AAP, insiders have indicated that the leadership may be focusing more on Punjab-specific issues in Parliament, especially with the state heading toward assembly elections in the near future. Mittal, in his first remarks after assuming the new role, expressed gratitude to the party leadership and reiterated his commitment to raising concerns related to Punjab, including delays in central funds and issues affecting the common people.

As the Enforcement Directorate’s investigation continues, further details are expected to emerge regarding the nature of the alleged financial irregularities. For now, the raids have added a new layer of political and legal scrutiny around Ashok Mittal, even as his elevation within the party signals growing importance in AAP’s parliamentary strategy.