The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday conducted searches at multiple premises linked to the Lovely Group, headed by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Kumar Mittal, in Jalandhar and Phagwara in Punjab, in connection with alleged violations under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).

According to officials, the searches covered several institutions and business establishments associated with the group, including Lovely Professional University (LPU), Lovely Autos, Lovely Sweets, and the Lovely Distance Education Centre. The agency also carried out searches at residential and office premises linked to Mittal’s family members, including his brothers Ramesh Mittal and Naresh Mittal.

The ED action is part of an ongoing investigation into alleged financial irregularities and suspected violations of foreign exchange regulations. Officials stated that searches were being conducted to collect evidence and examine financial records, though further details have not yet been disclosed as the investigation remains in progress.

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Ashok Kumar Mittal, the founder Chancellor of Lovely Professional University and Deputy Leader of the Rajya Sabha, is a prominent educationist and entrepreneur in Punjab. The developments have drawn attention due to his political position and his association with one of the region’s largest private educational institutions.

In earlier public interactions, Mittal had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with his family in 2023, where he discussed the role of higher education in skill development and expressed support for the National Education Policy. He had also highlighted LPU’s contributions to industry-oriented education and national development initiatives.

Last year, the university’s annual cultural festival ‘One India-2025’ was inaugurated by AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, underscoring the institution’s high-profile political and cultural engagements. Meanwhile, the ED has stated that further action will depend on findings from the ongoing search operations.

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