The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday carried out extensive raids at the residential premises of former Congress minister Sunder Sham Arora in Hoshiarpur, Punjab. The federal agency's officials arrived at Arora's palatial house located on Jodha Mal Road in the morning hours and commenced a thorough search operation.
Political Journey and Controversies
Sunder Sham Arora served as the Industries and Commerce minister in the Captain Amarinder Singh-led Punjab government. However, his ministerial tenure came to an abrupt end when Charanjit Singh Channi assumed the chief minister's office. In a significant political shift, Arora crossed over to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in June 2022, following the conclusion of the state assembly elections.
Ongoing Legal Troubles
The former minister has been embroiled in multiple legal battles and investigations. The Vigilance Bureau had been conducting an enquiry into a case concerning the transfer of an industrial plot. Simultaneously, a disproportionate assets case was progressing against him.
In a dramatic development on October 16, 2022, the Vigilance Bureau arrested Arora from Zirakpur. The arrest occurred under controversial circumstances when he was allegedly caught in the act of handing over a bag containing a substantial amount of Rs 50 lakh.
Current Investigation Status
The Enforcement Directorate's latest raid at Arora's Hoshiarpur residence marks an escalation in the ongoing investigations against the former minister. While the specific focus of today's search operation hasn't been officially disclosed, it appears to be connected to the multiple cases pending against the political figure.
The development has sent ripples through Punjab's political circles, particularly given Arora's transition from the Congress party to the BJP. Political observers are closely monitoring how this investigation unfolds and what implications it might have for the state's political landscape.
