High Court Seeks ED's Response To Punjab Minister Sanjeev Arora's Plea Challenging Arrest In Money Laundering Case

The Punjab & Haryana High Court today sought Enforcement Directorate's response to a plea filed by Punjab Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora, arrested and remanded in connection with a money laundering case.

Acting Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Rohit Kapoor issued notice and gave ED two weeks' time to file its response.

The AAP leader has been booked in a Rs 100-crore GST fraud linked to a company he previously headed. He has approached the Court challenging his arrest under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA).

Arora claims that all transactions were legal, made online and customs bills were supplied to the ED.

He has sought quashing of his arrest dated May 09, the grounds of arrest, and the remand order, alleging violation of statutory safeguards and fundamental rights.

It is alleged that ED had "pre-recorded, pre-typed" the grounds of his arrest, for "fictitious" compliance of PMLA. For context, Section 19 PMLA deals with ED's power of arrest and stipulates certain safeguards for accused including informing him of the grounds for such arrest.

Meanwhile, he has also moved an application seeking bail.

Arora, who is currently serving as Punjab's Minister for Industries and Commerce and was earlier a Rajya Sabha Member from 2022 to 2025, stated that he is the promoter and former Chairman of M/s Hampton Sky Realty Limited (HSRL), formerly known as Ritesh Properties and Industries Limited. He submitted that he had resigned from all executive roles upon assuming public office and has had no role in the day-to-day functioning of the company.

He is currently in judicial custody at Bhondsi Jail, Gurugram.

Case Title: Sajeev Arora v UOI & Ors.

Senior Advocate Puneel Bali appeared for Sanjeev Arora

Advocates Zohaib Hussain with Lokesh Narang for ED.