From Ludhiana’s well-connected industrial background to the Rajya Sabha and then to the most powerful corridors of the Bhagwant Mann Cabinet, AAP’s Sanjeev Arora witnessed a dramatic rise and then an equally swift fall. Today, he is on a seven-day ED remand, facing charges of money laundering worth over Rs 100 crore.Arora’s political journey has been marked by both acclaim and controversy. On the evening of May 9, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested him from his official residence in Chandigarh in connection with an alleged GST fraud and money-laundering case.A special PMLA court in Gurugram, where the ED had also conducted raids at his realty firm, Hampton Sky Realty Ltd, sent him to seven-day ED custody on Jattvibeday, though the agency had sought 10 days’ remand.Ironically, Arora, 62, is the first minister in Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s Cabinet in Punjab to be arrested by the ED.Following his arrest, Opposition leaders were quick to take jibes, with some remarking sarcastically “sab fare jaange”, while targeting his rise as a powerful political figure.Who is Sanjeev Arora?Born and raised in Ludhiana, Arora built a business empire spanning industry, real estate and finance, with a footprint in both Ludhiana and Delhi-NCR. His declared assets — over Rs 460 crore at the time of his Rajya Sabha election in 2022 — made him the seventh richest sitting Rajya Sabha MP in India, according to the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).In his affidavit for the Ludhiana West Assembly bypoll in May 2025, his net worth stood at Rs 278 crore — the highest ever declared by any Assembly candidate in Punjab. Combined with his wife Sandhya Arora’s assets, the family’s wealth crossed Rs 301 crore.The Good Samaritan sideArora also cultivated a philanthropic image. He ran the Krishna Pran Breast Cancer Charitable Trust in memory of his parents, both of whom succumbed to cancer, and supported over 300 cancer patients.As a Rajya Sabha MP, he adopted three district government hospitals — in Ludhiana, Jalandhar, and Amritsar — for renovation and upgrade through private initiatives.In 2023, he played a key role in saving the life of Kanav Jangra, an 18-month-old child from New Delhi, suffering from a rare genetic disorder. A fund of Rs 17.5 crore was raised for the imported therapy Zolgensma, flown in from the United Kingdom and administered at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi. The child was successfully treated and discharged.Political journeyRajya Sabha to AAP CabinetArora entered politics in 2022 when the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) nominated him to the Rajya Sabha. At the time, allegations surfaced that the ticket had been “bought”, which he denied.Over the next three years, he emerged as one of AAP’s more active MPs, particularly on infrastructure and health. He was credited with pushing the long-pending Halwara international airport project in Ludhiana, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 1, 2026. He also advocated for key National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) projects across Punjab.Known for being media-savvy, Arora was often seen interacting with senior BJP leaders, including Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, reflecting his cross-party outreach.Resignation from Rajya SabhaIn February 2025, Arora resigned from the Rajya Sabha with more than three years remaining in his term to contest the Ludhiana West Assembly bypoll following the death of AAP MLA Gurpreet Bassi Gogi.The move triggered speculation that the vacancy could pave the way for AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal’s entry into the Rajya Sabha, though Arora dismissed such claims.He went on to win the bypoll in June 2025, defeating Congress leader Bharat Bhushan Ashu by 10,637 votes.Quick rise in the Mann CabinetArora’s ascent within the Punjab Government was swift. After being inducted into the Mann Cabinet, he was initially assigned the portfolios of Industries, Investment Promotion, and NRI Affairs. Within a month, he was also given the Power portfolio, followed by the Local Government department on January 8, 2026.This made him one of the most powerful ministers in the Cabinet, handling multiple key departments within just six months of entering state politics.His appeal among urban Hindu voters and outreach to industrialists positioned him as a key AAP leader countering the BJP’s growing influence in Punjab’s urban centres.It was during an investment summit in Europe that the ED conducted raids at his premises in his absence, reportedly recovering incriminating documents.The ED caseThe ED registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) on May 5, 2026, and arrested Arora four days later. According to the agency, fake GST purchase invoices worth over Rs 100 crore (allegedly linked to mobile phone transactions) were generated through shell firms in Delhi to fraudulently claim Input Tax Credit (ITC). The funds were then allegedly routed through Dubai and brought back to India in a “round-tripping” arrangement to launder money. The ED also raided Hampton Sky Realty Ltd, a Gurugram-based firm linked to Arora, which has stated that it is cooperating fully with investigators.Arora’s lawyer, however, has termed the case “politically motivated”, noting that the FIR was registered just four days before the arrest.Political reactionsChief Minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal condemned the arrest, calling it a misuse of central agencies to target Opposition leaders.The BJP, in response, said AAP was “rattled” and claimed its “days were numbered in Punjab.”A different political styleArora was not known for mudslinging. Even during the Ludhiana West by-election campaign, he avoided personal attacks and focused on his work and development agenda.In Ludhiana’s social circles-from modest gatherings to elite events, he maintained a consistent presence, reflecting his grass-roots and business connections.Even after his arrest, several industrialists across political lines have expressed concern that “vindictive politics” could adversely affect Punjab’s growth and stability.