ED Tightens Grip With Fresh Raids In GST Fraud Case Linked To Sanjeev Arora

The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday carried out fresh search operations across Punjab and Uttar Pradesh in connection with a money laundering investigation linked to an alleged ₹100 crore GST fraud case involving mobile phone sales and Punjab minister Sanjeev Arora. Officials said the coordinated raids were conducted at nearly six locations spread across Jalandhar and Ludhiana in Punjab, along with Bareilly and Noida in Uttar Pradesh.

The searches covered residential and commercial premises associated with individuals and entities under the scanner as part of the widening probe. According to officials, the investigation is focused on alleged irregularities in Goods and Services Tax (GST) filings and transactions linked to mobile phone trading networks. The case has also drawn scrutiny over suspected laundering of proceeds through layered financial transfers and shell-linked business structures.

Investigators are examining whether the transactions were used to disguise taxable income and divert funds through multiple channels. The probe is also connected to Hampton Sky Realty Ltd., a firm that officials say is linked to the broader network under investigation. Agencies are reviewing financial records, ownership structures, and transaction histories to trace the flow of funds and establish potential links between the company, associated individuals, and alleged tax evasion.

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Sanjeev Arora, 62, was arrested by the central agency last month following day-long searches at his official residence in Chandigarh. He is currently in judicial custody as part of the ongoing investigation. Arora had previously held key portfolios in the Punjab government, including Power, Industry, and Commerce. Following his arrest, the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann redistributed his ministerial responsibilities among other cabinet members to ensure continuity in governance.

The development came amid growing political and administrative scrutiny surrounding the case. The Enforcement Directorate’s latest round of searches is seen as part of an intensified effort to gather additional evidence and map the full extent of the alleged financial network. Officials indicated that digital devices, documents, and transaction records were being examined as part of the ongoing probe.

While the investigation remains at a preliminary evidentiary stage, authorities are expected to continue questioning individuals linked to the case and analyzing financial trails across states. Further action will depend on the outcome of forensic audits and the verification of suspected money laundering pathways connected to the alleged GST fraud.

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