ED Raids Premises of AAP MP Ashok Mittal; Difficulties Mount Shortly After Replacing Raghav Chadha as Deputy Leader

A major legal hurdle arrived this morning for Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP and the newly appointed Deputy Leader of the party in the Upper House, Ashok Mittal. An Enforcement Directorate (ED) team conducted simultaneous raids on about 10 of his locations in Punjab and Haryana early Wednesday. This action was carried out at his residence in Jalandhar and several business premises, including the prestigious Lovely Professional University (LPU). These raids have not only created a stir in political circles but have also raised questions about AAP’s internal strategies. Notably, this action comes within just two weeks of Ashok Mittal being made the party’s Deputy Leader in the Rajya Sabha. The party had recently assigned this important responsibility to Mittal, replacing the veteran leader Raghav Chadha.

According to available information, the central investigative agency is conducting these raids in a case involving alleged violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). The scope of the raids extended beyond Ashok Mittal’s Jalandhar residence to include institutions associated with his family members and associates. This included the LPU campus in Phagwara, Punjab, and educational institutions like Tetra College of Business and Masters Union in Gurugram. Additionally, other ventures of the Lovely Group, such as Lovely Sweets and Lovely Autos, were also searched by the teams. Sources say that the agency had been reviewing foreign transaction and funding records for some time, leading to this search operation based on evidence.

Politically, this development is being viewed as highly sensitive. The Aam Aadmi Party has termed this action as “entirely politically motivated.” Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann have expressed sharp reactions, targeting the central government. Bhagwant Mann, in a social media post, described it as an “attempt to suppress the opposition” and stated that the BJP activates its agencies as elections approach. Other party leaders also showed solidarity with Ashok Mittal, calling it part of political vendetta. Ashok Mittal, a renowned educationist and successful businessman, was sent to the Rajya Sabha in 2022 and is also a member of the Standing Committee on Finance in Parliament.

These raids have reignited discussions regarding the leadership change between Raghav Chadha and Ashok Mittal. Recently, AAP had written to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat requesting Mittal’s appointment as Deputy Leader in place of Chadha, a move described as a routine process. However, as soon as he took the position, the grip of the law tightened around him. Investigative officers are currently scanning digital evidence, bank account details, and investment-related documents from the premises. No official statement has been issued by the Enforcement Directorate yet, but it is believed that this series of interrogations could continue for several days. This case has brought a new turn to Punjab’s politics, which is certain to impact upcoming political equations.