The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday conducted raids at various houses and workplaces of Punjab Industries and Power Minister Sanjeev Arora as part of a foreign exchange violation probe. The search operations that started at 7 am created panic in the city, as these came two days after the ED raided AAP MP Ashok Mittal.While ED sleuths raided about a dozen premises in Delhi, Ludhiana, Gurugram and Chandigarh, the minister himself was on a flight to Europe to attend an event concerning ‘Invest Punjab’, which is starting from Monday.Talking briefly to The Tribune, Arora said, “I have just come to know about the raids. I have no idea why the ED is surveying my premises, workplaces, etc.”A few minutes later, Arora tweeted, “Good morning! An action by the Enforcement Directorate took place at my premises. As a responsible citizen, I will fully cooperate with the agencies and I am confident that the truth will prevail.”The ED teams were provided security cover by a central paramilitary force and there was no involvement of the Punjab Police. Hemant Sood, a close associate of Arora, also came under the scanner of the ED, as his residence and other premises were also raided on Friday. On April 15, the ED had raided the premises of Mittal, the owner of Lovely Professional University.The industrialists, who have close proximity with Arora, termed the raids as “political vendetta” against AAP leaders.Arora is the promoter of Hampton Sky Realty Ltd (formerly Ritesh Properties and Industries Ltd), which is into large-scale real estate and infra projects in Punjab.Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu said AAP leader Raghav Chadha, who was recently removed from the post of party deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha, would now turn a witness and provide details regarding the alleged misappropriation of funds by influential figures in Punjab.Bittu further alleged that Arora was allotted a large parcel of land on the Ludhiana-Chandigarh road to promote industrial development and generate employment. However, he claimed that the land was misused for vested interests, with residential flats being constructed instead.BID to scare AAPThe BJP is trying to scare AAP leaders by sending ED so that they either don’t contest (2027 polls) or join saffron camp by going through its washing machine. Democracy is being murdered. Bhagwant Mann, Punjab CMWhen asked to substantiate his claims, Bittu said it was now the media’s responsibility to uncover the evidence. He also alleged that Arora frequently visited Dubai to manage financial matters.He said Chadha had openly come out against AAP and vice versa.“Obviously, he will provide all details. And the officers involved in all these transactions will also not be spared now,” said Bittu. On being asked about the timing of raids ahead of the Assembly elections in Punjab, Bittu clarified that the agencies like the CBI and ED run independently and were not under the jurisdiction of the Home Minister or anyone else.Bittu also took a dig at AAP’s move of acquiring thousands of acres of land under the “land pooling” scheme. The minister said he was grateful to Punjab and Haryana High Court, which intervened and saved the farmers.Reacting to the raids, SAD leader Bikram Majithia posted on X, “ED heat on alleged AAP ‘money exchangers’ — first Mittal, now Arora. If the CBI or ED acts, it’s called oppression; if the Vigilance acts, it’s seen as a strike against corruption. In AAP, hypocrisy committed suicide. Long-standing chatter of crores being used to secure Rajya Sabha berths, with select individuals allegedly acting as money exchangers for the party.”