ED Conducts Raids on AAP MP Ashok Mittal Amid Allegations of Foreign Exchange Violations

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) ramped up its investigative efforts on Wednesday by launching a series of raids associated with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Mittal. The operation targeted his residence and various other sites in Punjab and Haryana, forming part of a broader inquiry into purported violations of foreign exchange regulations.

This heightened scrutiny comes just weeks after Mittal took over the role of deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha, succeeding fellow party member Raghav Chadha. Notably, the raids included significant locations such as Lovely Professional University, which Mittal founded and oversees as chancellor, located in Phagwara, Punjab. Furthermore, two educational institutions tied to him in Gurugram, Haryana—Tetr College of Business and Masters Union College of Business—were also searched as part of the operation.

Alongside the university, the ED extended its investigation to several other businesses under the Lovely Group umbrella, which includes entities like Lovely Autos, Lovely Sweets, and the Lovely Distance Education Centre. The agency’s actions were not limited to Mittal’s properties; searches were also conducted at locations connected to his family members, specifically his brothers Ramesh and Naresh Mittal. This wide-ranging inquiry is rooted in alleged breaches of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).

In reaction to the enforcement actions, AAP leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal expressed his concern, suggesting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi might be gearing up for the upcoming Punjab elections scheduled for next year. He asserted that the residents of Punjab would not stand idly by as such actions unfold, implying a political motive behind the ED’s raids.

The ED’s probe into foreign exchange violations reflects a broader trend of increased regulatory scrutiny across various sectors in India, particularly involving political figures. As the situation continues to develop, it is likely to have significant implications for Mittal, the AAP, and the political landscape in Punjab as the elections approach.

Source: scroll.in