Chandigarh: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday raided multiple business entities linked to AAP Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Mittal in Punjab and Gurugram as part of a probe under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).
Mittal, 61, a businessman-educationist who heads the Lovely Group including Lovely Professional University (LPU) was recently appointed AAP's deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha, replacing Raghav Chadha.
Officials confirmed searches at 8-9 locations, including Jalandhar, Phagwara, and a farmhouse, covering premises tied to Mittal, his son, and brothers Ramesh and Naresh Mittal.
Key entities under the scanner include LPU, Lovely Autos, Lovely Sweets, and the Lovely Distance Education Centre. ED teams were seen at the LPU campus examining financial records and documents. Sources said the probe focuses on suspected irregularities in fund flows and cross-border transactions.
The raids triggered sharp political reactions. AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal accused the BJP of "preparing for elections in Punjab" by targeting opposition leaders. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann echoed the charge, calling the searches politically motivated.
With the ED tightening its grip, Mittal's business empire faces scrutiny at a sensitive political moment, setting the stage for another high-stakes clash between the ruling BJP and the AAP.