Aman Arora on Thursday strongly denied any involvement in alleged irregularities linked to recent Enforcement Directorate searches conducted in parts of Punjab, asserting that he was being politically targeted through individuals known to him. The statement came a day after the Directorate of Enforcement carried out raids at multiple locations connected to real estate developers in New Chandigarh and nearby areas, including Kharar, as part of an ongoing investigation into an alleged real estate and financial irregularities case.
Addressing the media, Aman Arora said he was ready to quit politics permanently if any wrongdoing was proven against him. “I will quit politics for good if any wrongdoing is established against me,” he declared, while maintaining that neither he nor his party had any involvement in illegal activities being investigated by the central agency.
The ED action has triggered a political storm in Punjab after opposition parties attempted to link Arora’s name with some of the individuals and developers whose premises were searched. However, no formal charges or allegations have been legally established against the Punjab AAP chief so far.
During the investigation, one of the developers named in the ED’s communication was described as being a close associate of Aman Arora. Responding to this, the AAP leader acknowledged his long-standing personal friendship with realtor Gaurav Dhir but categorically denied having any financial dealings with him.
Arora said that Gaurav Dhir had been his personal friend for nearly three decades and alleged that the businessman was being targeted only to politically corner him. “There has never been any financial transaction between us. I am ready to cooperate fully. I can personally appear before the ED, and they can even conduct a forensic examination of my phone if needed,” he said.
Questioning the manner in which the investigation narrative evolved, Arora referred to reports linked to the dramatic recovery of cash allegedly thrown from a balcony during one of the raids and said the probe had suddenly shifted focus toward him without any concrete basis. He claimed that the first statement issued by the ED after the searches did not mention his name, but a subsequent communication added his name as an associate, which he termed suspicious and politically motivated.
In a sharp political counterattack, Arora also alleged selective targeting by central agencies and pointed out that one of the persons under investigation, Suresh Kumar Bajaj, had reportedly donated ₹2.5 lakh to the BJP during 2023-24. He questioned why such aspects were not being highlighted in the political discourse surrounding the raids.
The Punjab AAP chief further said that allegations regarding links between some of the persons under investigation and officials in the Chief Minister’s Office had already been clarified by the government. Referring to statements made earlier by the Punjab leadership, he said the state government and the party had no connection with the individuals being investigated.
The ED raids in Punjab have once again intensified political tensions ahead of the upcoming electoral battles in the state, with both the ruling AAP and opposition parties accusing each other of misusing institutions and politicising investigations.
While opposition leaders continue to demand accountability and transparency over the case, the AAP leadership has maintained that the central agencies are being used to pressure political opponents. As of now, the investigation remains ongoing and no direct legal culpability against Aman Arora has been officially established.