A dispute has escalated between Punjab’s ruling Aam Aadmi Party and the federal Enforcement Directorate over an alleged money-laundering and cash-for-transfer scheme involving officials close to the state government. The ED urged Punjab Police to register a criminal case, citing evidence such as WhatsApp exchanges regarding postings and transfers, as well as land and tender dealings. Punjab Police responded that the supplied material was largely illegible or unclear, asking the federal agency to hand over complete documentation, seized electronic data, and other evidence before an FIR is registered. No FIR had been registered as of the latest exchange.
AAP Punjab president Aman Arora accused the ED of using repeated letters and selective media leaks to malign the party’s leadership rather than presenting substantiated evidence through proper channels. Arora stated the agency had named him and colleague Lal Chand Kataruchak, and arrested Sanjeev Arora without a substantive case. He characterized the episode as a political vilification campaign orchestrated by the BJP-led central government, while the state government framed its refusal to register an FIR without adequate proof as a matter of due process.