ED Conducts Searches at Premises of CA Associated with Punjab Minister Sanjeev Arora

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday carried out extensive search operations across Punjab and several other locations as part of an ongoing investigation into an alleged money laundering case connected with Hampton Sky Realty, a company reportedly linked to Punjab minister Sanjeev Arora.

According to officials familiar with the matter, the investigation is centered on allegations concerning the improper utilization and diversion of funds collected from investors in the real estate project. As part of the coordinated operation, ED teams conducted searches at multiple premises located in Delhi-NCR, Ludhiana, and Jalandhar.

One of the key locations searched belonged to Amit Bajaj, a Jalandhar-based Chartered Accountant and municipal contractor who is understood to have maintained professional associations with Sanjeev Arora during his tenure as Punjab's Local Bodies Minister.

Searches Cover Business and Professional Interests

Investigators reportedly included Amit Bajaj's premises in the broader inquiry due to his professional and business connections. Bajaj, along with his brother Inderjit Bajaj, is associated with enterprises involved in executing municipal infrastructure projects, including road construction and street-lighting assignments for government bodies and municipal corporations across Punjab, Gujarat, and other states.

Meanwhile, reports suggesting that an advocate with the same name in Jalandhar had also been searched were denied by the lawyer, who clarified publicly that no ED action had taken place at his residence.

Profile of Amit Bajaj

Amit Bajaj is widely recognized in Punjab's professional circles as a Chartered Accountant offering services in income tax advisory, GST compliance, corporate audits, and business consultancy. He has worked with numerous corporate and business clients across the state and has also participated in various professional awareness initiatives organized through the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI).

Apart from his accounting practice, the Bajaj family has maintained a longstanding presence in municipal contracting through Bajaj Consultancy, a firm engaged in infrastructure-related projects such as road development and street-lighting works for over three decades.

Sources familiar with local political developments also indicate that Bajaj has been associated with activities supporting the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the region, although he is not reported to hold any formal party position.

Political Reactions Surface Following ED Action

The ED's search operations quickly triggered political reactions. AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal criticized the agency's action, alleging that investigative agencies were targeting smaller business owners while overlooking larger corporate entities. In comments shared on social media platform X, Kejriwal questioned the priorities of the enforcement agency and accused it of selectively targeting traders and entrepreneurs.

Responding to these allegations, BJP leader Anil Sareen defended the functioning of central investigative agencies, stating that they operate independently. He rejected claims of political motivation behind the searches while simultaneously alleging that state-level vigilance agencies in Punjab were being utilized for political purposes.

Series of ED Actions Across Punjab

The latest searches are part of a broader series of enforcement actions undertaken by the ED in Punjab during recent weeks.

• May 7, 2026: Searches were conducted in connection with the Suntec City land scam investigation, targeting premises linked to businessman Nitin Goyal and former Deputy Speaker Bir Devinder Singh in the Kharar region of Mohali.
• May 9, 2026: The ED carried out raids at locations associated with Sanjeev Arora, including his official residence in Chandigarh, before arresting him in a separate money laundering case.
• May 26, 2026: Search operations were conducted against entities connected to Chandigarh Royal City Promoters and Royal Estate Group in Zirakpur over allegations involving cheque-bounce transactions and diversion of approximately ₹32.67 crore in GMADA-related funds.

The ongoing Hampton Sky Realty investigation is expected to continue as the agency examines financial transactions, investor fund utilization, and potential violations under anti-money laundering laws.

Short Summary

The Enforcement Directorate conducted searches across Punjab and Delhi-NCR as part of a money laundering investigation linked to Hampton Sky Realty and alleged misuse of investor funds. Chartered Accountant Amit Bajaj, known for his professional association with Punjab minister Sanjeev Arora, was among those covered during the operation. The action has sparked political reactions amid a series of recent ED investigations in Punjab.