Chandigarh, September 2, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Punjab Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) president and Cabinet Minister Aman Arora on Wednesday accused the Enforcement Directorate (ED) of targeting the state’s political leadership through repeated communications, media leaks and allegations instead of presenting clear evidence.
Arora said the Punjab Police had sought complete documentary and electronic evidence from the ED to enable a proper investigation, but the agency had so far failed to provide material that was clear and usable.
Addressing the media, Arora said the ED’s latest communication to the Punjab DGP, seeking registration of an FIR under Section 66(2), reflected what he described as the “desperation and frustration” of the BJP-led Central Government. He said the Punjab Police had written to the ED on August 28 seeking complete evidence and documents seized during searches.
According to Arora, the police had also asked the ED to send an officer with the relevant material on September 1, but no such officer appeared.
Arora alleged that the BJP’s broader objective was to create chaos, intimidate political leaders and keep government officials under pressure so that the elected Punjab Government could not function effectively.
He also recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s criticism of the CBI during his tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister, when Modi had described the agency as a “parrot” of the Central Government. Arora said he now agreed with that assessment, alleging that the ED, CBI and other Central agencies were functioning as “BJP’s parrots”.
The AAP leader also objected to what he described as attempts to associate him with alleged irregularities involving the Altus project. He said names including those of AAP leaders Sanjeev Arora, Lal Chand Kataruchak and himself were being circulated in the media without wrongdoing having been established. He further alleged that the ED was attempting to reach him through his long-time friend Gaurav Dhir.
Arora presented the chronology of Change of Land Use (CLU) approvals relating to the Altus project and maintained that none had been granted during the AAP Government’s tenure. He said approvals were issued on November 17, 2000; May 14, 2012; June 25, 2013; February 17, 2018; March 7, 2018; and March 7, 2022, during previous Congress or Akali-BJP governments.
He also said layout plans for the project had undergone several changes between 2011 and 2025, with multiple changes taking place under previous governments. If the ED considered any approvals or changes illegal, he said, the entire chronology should be examined rather than selectively focusing on the present government.
Arora questioned the ED’s focus on the 25% land-ownership policy for developers, saying it originated under the Akali-BJP Government in 2012 and was changed by the AAP Government in 2025. He said the revised policy required developers to own 100% of the land before obtaining a licence and CLU.
He also questioned the ED’s reliance on FIRs linked to the matter, claiming that the relevant FIRs had already been quashed by the High Court and asking what basis remained for the ECIR.
Calling for an impartial investigation, Arora said all those responsible for the department and related decisions since 2012 should be examined. He specifically named former Punjab Chief Ministers and ministers Sukhbir Singh Badal and Captain Amarinder Singh, besides Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa and Sukhwinder Singh Sukhsarkaria, who, he said, held the concerned department at different times.
Rejecting any attempt to establish a connection between his friendship with Dhir and alleged wrongdoing, Arora said the ED should approach him directly if it had anything against him.
He also urged print, electronic and social media organisations to independently verify ED allegations and obtain the responses of the AAP leaders concerned before publishing reports. He warned that repeated publication of unverified allegations could damage reputations and lead affected individuals to consider legal action for defamation.
“This is not about avoiding investigation. We welcome a genuine investigation based on facts and evidence. But selective targeting, media leaks and attempts at character assassination cannot substitute for evidence,” Arora said.
He reiterated that if the ED had genuine evidence, it should hand it over to the Punjab Police as requested and allow the investigation to proceed according to law.
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