4 days ago
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A peculiar PMLA tribunal present has dismissed the bail exertion of Punjab Minister Sanjeev Arora, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate past month.
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Mr. Arora was arrested by the ED successful transportation with a wealth laundering lawsuit related to an alleged ₹100 crore GST fraud involving definite entities linked to him.
The 62-year-old curate was taken into custody connected May 9, 2026, pursuing raids conducted by the ED astatine his authoritative residence astatine Sector 2, Chandigarh.
In its bid dated June 15, 2026, the tribunal said it was of the presumption that the petitioner does not merit the concession of bail astatine this signifier arsenic helium whitethorn marque efforts to tamper with the evidence.
The ED submitted earlier the tribunal that bail astatine this signifier volition hamper the investigation.
"During arguments, the counsel for ED submitted that the probe is inactive pending and successful lawsuit of assistance of bail astatine this stage, the petitioner volition marque his champion efforts to tamper with the evidence," the tribunal bid said.
Citing an incidental during the investigation, the ED counsel said it was revealed that 1 idiosyncratic whose connection was recorded nether Section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) was taken to the bureau of an advocator to hole an exertion to retract his statement. Two radical related to the petitioner adjacent transferred the counsel interest of ₹35,000 to him done GPay.
"However, pursuing ineligible proposal taken from different counsel, the said exertion was not moved earlier this court," the ED counsel said.
The tribunal said the probe serviceman has produced earlier it screenshots of the receipt of ₹35,000. The tribunal besides perused the lawsuit diary maintained by the probe officer.
"After considering the evidence, this tribunal is of the presumption that the petitioner does not merit concession of bail astatine this signifier arsenic helium whitethorn marque efforts to tamper with the grounds arsenic helium is good acquainted with persons having cognition of the company's affairs, alleged dealings and transactions. As of today, his household and different known persons are making specified efforts, arsenic wide from the facts recorded above," the tribunal observed, dismissing Mr. Arora's bail.
Mr. Arora held the portfolios of power, manufacture and commerce.
After his arrest, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had allocated Mr. Arora's portfolios to different ministers.
