Advertisement
What really powers the cloud? Behind every Google search, A...
A lot of what defines a home isn’t visible at handover. I...
Private equity has played a significant role in shaping Indi...
Luxury real estate is one of the most talked-about segments ...
Airports play a much bigger role than just enabling travel -...
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has conducted a fresh round of searches across Punjab and Uttar Pradesh as part of its money laundering investigation into an alleged INR 100 crore GST fraud linked to mobile phone trading. The probe involves Punjab minister Sanjeev Arora, who was arrested last month and is currently in judicial custody. Search operations covered multiple residential and business premises associated with individuals and entities under investigation, including Hampton Sky Realty Ltd., a company linked to Arora. The latest action marks an expansion of the agency’s inquiry into alleged fraudulent GST transactions and the suspected laundering of proceeds generated through the scheme. The case has also had political implications in Punjab, with Arora’s ministerial portfolios being reassigned following his arrest.
The Enforcement Directorate has carried out fresh searches in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh in connection with a money laundering investigation linked to an alleged INR 100 crore Goods and Services Tax (GST) fraud involving mobile phone sales. The action, undertaken in the past week, forms part of an ongoing probe involving Punjab minister Sanjeev Arora and several individuals and entities suspected of having links to the case.
According to officials, the searches were conducted at approximately six locations across Jalandhar and Ludhiana in Punjab, as well as Bareilly and Noida in Uttar Pradesh. The premises covered by the operation included residential properties and business establishments connected with persons and companies under the agency’s scrutiny. Investigators are examining financial records, corporate documents and other evidence as they seek to establish the flow of funds linked to the alleged fraud.
A key focus of the investigation remains Hampton Sky Realty Ltd., a company linked to Arora and his family. Officials indicated that the searches were aimed at gathering additional evidence related to transactions and entities believed to be connected to the alleged GST fraud and subsequent money laundering activities. The agency is examining whether proceeds generated through the alleged scheme were routed through multiple entities or invested in business assets.
Arora, 62, was arrested by the ED last month following day-long searches at his official residence in Chandigarh and other associated premises. He is currently lodged in judicial custody. Prior to his arrest, he held the Power, Industry and Commerce portfolios in the Punjab government. Following the arrest, the Bhagwant Mann-led administration redistributed his ministerial responsibilities among other members of the cabinet to ensure continuity in governance.
The investigation stems from allegations of large-scale GST fraud linked to mobile phone trading operations. Authorities suspect that fraudulent invoices and questionable transactions were used to claim ineligible input tax credits, resulting in substantial losses to the exchequer. The ED subsequently initiated a money laundering probe to determine whether the proceeds generated through the alleged fraud were concealed, transferred or integrated into legitimate business activities.
The latest searches indicate that the agency is continuing to expand the scope of its investigation. Officials are reported to be tracing financial transactions, examining corporate relationships and scrutinising banking records to identify additional links between individuals, companies and the alleged fraud network. The examination of documents and digital evidence seized during the raids is expected to continue as investigators seek to establish the full extent of the alleged financial irregularities.
Source - PTI
Advertisement
Facebook
Whatsapp
