Gurugram, May 19
Punjab minister and Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjeev Arora was on Monday sent to judicial custody for two weeks by a Gurugram court in connection with an alleged Rs 100 crore money laundering case linked to a GST fraud investigation involving mobile phone sales.
Arora was produced before the court by the Enforcement Directorate after completion of his extended remand. Officials said the minister’s next appearance has been scheduled for June 1, and the proceedings will be conducted virtually.
According to Enforcement Directorate officials, questioning of the minister has been completed, and the agency is now preparing to file a chargesheet in the case. The 62-year-old leader was arrested on May 9 at his official residence in Chandigarh after the ED conducted raids in connection with alleged financial irregularities. Investigators alleged that large investments were made in properties located in Gurugram through suspicious transactions.
The agency claimed that searches conducted during the investigation recovered important documents related to financial transactions and investments. Officials alleged that money was routed through shell companies and used to purchase benami properties. Before being taken to jail on Monday, Arora was seen meeting his family members outside the court premises.
Arora’s lawyer said notices and summons had also been issued to members of the minister’s family as part of the ongoing probe. Some relatives were questioned and later allowed to leave. The defence counsel maintained that the case against the minister was false and argued that no prima facie evidence had been collected before his arrest.
The Enforcement Directorate had earlier obtained a seven-day remand of Arora after producing him before the Gurugram Sessions Court. On Saturday, the court extended the agency’s custody by 2 days before sending him to judicial custody on Monday.
