Hoshiarpur: Troubles appear to be mounting for former Punjab Industry Minister and Congress leader Sunder Sham Arora. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids at his residence on Jodha Mal Road in Hoshiarpur continued for the second consecutive day on Tuesday. The raid, which began around 5 a.m. on Monday, is being conducted alongside the ED team and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel for security.
This action is being carried out as part of a case related to the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and a disproportionate assets case. The investigating agency has cordoned off Arora’s residence and is thoroughly examining documents inside. For security reasons, entry to the house and movement of those inside has been restricted.
ED raids the premises of his son and real estate tycoons as well
The scope of the ED investigation is not limited to the former minister’s residence. According to sources, separate teams of the agency also conducted simultaneous raids at premises linked to Sunder Sham Arora’s son, Prateek Arora, and his business associates.
Real estate developers such as the Marbella Group and the Gulmohar Township Group are also reportedly under investigation. It is alleged that the alleged illegal earnings were laundered through real estate businesses and promoters. ED teams are examining related financial transactions and documents.
ED also raided Sunder Sham Arora’s residence in January
This is not the first raid by investigative agencies at Sunder Sham Arora’s residence. Earlier, on January 27th, the Enforcement Directorate, along with the Income Tax Department, raided his home. During that raid, officials examined documents for several hours.
However, no official statement has yet been issued by the ED regarding the latest action.
Understand the ED’s investigation in three key points
– Disproportionate Assets and Money Laundering: The main focus of the investigation is to investigate the alleged acquisition of disproportionate assets and the related financial transactions.
– Investigation into the Real Estate Network: Financial records are being scrutinized by raiding the premises of Sunder Sham Arora’s son, Prateek Arora, and builders associated with him.
– Investigation into Old Cases: The former minister has previously been named in industrial plot disputes and bribery cases in Punjab.
Two Major Cases Involving Sunder Sham Arora
1. Mohali Industrial Plot Transfer Case
Sunder Sham Arora was accused of allegedly violating rules and transferring an industrial plot belonging to the Punjab Small Industries and Export Corporation (PSIEC) to a real estate company.
According to the allegations, approval was granted to divide the 12-plot industrial land into 125 plots, contrary to the rules.
In January 2023, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau filed a case against Sunder Sham Arora, an IAS officer, and other PSIEC officials in this matter. However, in December 2024, the Punjab and Haryana High Court quashed the FIR related to this case.
2. Accused of offering a bribe of Rs 1 crore
In October 2022, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau arrested Sunder Sham Arora on bribery charges. He was accused of attempting to bribe Vigilance AIG Manmohan Kumar with Rs 1 crore to obtain relief from an ongoing investigation against him.
The agency laid a trap following a complaint from a Vigilance officer. According to the allegation, Arora was arriving to pay Rs 50 lakh in cash as the first installment of the bribe when the Vigilance team arrested him on the spot.
At present, the ED’s latest action continues for the second day, and official information from the investigating agency is awaited.