ED conducted searches at multiple locations linked to Punjab minister Sanjeev Arora before arresting him under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act

Punjab minister and AAP leader Sanjeev Arora was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday after the agency carried out raids at premises linked to him in Chandigarh and the Delhi-NCR region.

According to officials, the searches were conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The ED reportedly raided four locations connected to Arora and his associates before taking him into custody from his official residence in Chandigarh’s Sector 2.

Arora, 62, is the Aam Aadmi Party MLA from Ludhiana West and currently serves as a minister in the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

Reports said this is the third time this year that the ED has conducted action linked to Arora. Earlier raids were also carried out in April and earlier this month as part of an ongoing investigation.

The arrest triggered strong political reactions from the Aam Aadmi Party. AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal criticised the BJP-led Centre, alleging misuse of central agencies against opposition leaders. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also attacked the BJP, saying Punjab would not be intimidated by such actions.

Several reports linked the ED action to an alleged money laundering probe connected to suspected fake GST transactions worth around ₹100 crore. However, the ED has not yet released a detailed official statement publicly outlining all allegations against the minister.

The arrest comes amid heightened political tensions in Punjab, where opposition parties and the ruling AAP have repeatedly clashed over corruption allegations and the use of investigative agencies.

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Suvendu Adhikari took oath as the first Chief Minister from the BJP in West Bengal on Saturday, marking a major political shift in the state after the party’s victory in the 2026 Assembly elections.

Governor R. N. Ravi administered the oath of office at Kolkata’s Brigade Parade Ground in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and several senior NDA leaders.

The swearing-in ceremony also saw five ministers take oath in the new cabinet. Among them were Dilip Ghosh and Agnimitra Paul, who joined the newly formed government led by Adhikari.

The BJP’s rise to power ends the Trinamool Congress government’s 15-year rule in the state and gives the saffron party its first-ever government in West Bengal.

Adhikari, once a close aide of former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, joined the BJP in 2020 and later emerged as one of the party’s strongest faces in Bengal politics. His victories in Nandigram and Bhabanipur strengthened his position within the party ahead of the leadership decision.

The BJP legislature party had formally elected Adhikari as its leader a day before the oath ceremony in the presence of Amit Shah and other senior leaders.

Suvendu Adhikari is set to take oath as the Chief Minister of West Bengal, becoming the first leader from the Bharatiya Janata Party to head the state government.

The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled to take place at Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata and is expected to witness the presence of several senior BJP leaders and supporters from across the state.

Adhikari was unanimously elected as the BJP legislature party leader after the party secured a decisive victory in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. His appointment marks a significant political change in the state, where the BJP is forming the government for the first time.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and several Union ministers are expected to attend the ceremony. Reports also indicate that the oath event has been planned on a large public scale to underline the BJP’s breakthrough in Bengal politics.

Adhikari emerged as one of the BJP’s key faces in Bengal after defeating Mamata Banerjee in the high-profile Nandigram contest in 2021 and later consolidating his position within the party’s state leadership.

Security arrangements have been tightened around the oath venue, while party workers have gathered in large numbers ahead of the ceremony. The event is being viewed as a landmark moment in West Bengal’s political history.