Punjab Minister Sanjeev Arora sent to seven-day ED custody

A court in Gurugram has sent Punjab Industries Minister Sanjeev Arora to seven-day ED custody in a money laundering case, officials said on Sunday (May 10, 2026).

Mr. Arora, 62, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a GST fraud case at his official residence in Chandigarh on Saturday evening, May 9, 2026, following raids against him.

The central agency had also searched the premises of Mr. Arora’s company, Hampton Sky Realty Ltd, in Gurugram. The company said it has confidence in the legal process and is fully cooperating with all legal authorities.

Mr. Arora was brought by road from Chandigarh to Gurugram in Haryana by ED detectives, officials said.

The special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Gurugram sent Arora to seven-day ED custody. They said the agency requested a 10-day detention.

The minister’s lawyer told reporters that the ED registered the case on May 5 and arrested Mr. Arora on May 9. He claimed that this was a “politically motivated” case.

According to ED, the investigation under PMLA relates to “fake” GST purchases of mobile phones worth more than ₹ 100 crore and subsequent exports of allegedly illegitimate “round trip” funds from Dubai to India.

The agency alleged that a large number of fake GST purchase invoices were received from “non-existing” firms in Delhi to falsely claim Input Tax Credit (ITC).

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal condemned the ED action and accused the Center of using agencies like the ED and Central Bureau of Investigation as “weapons” to scare opposition leaders into joining the BJP.

The BJP hit back, saying Mr Kejriwal and his party were shaken because they knew their “days were numbered in Punjab”.