ED using repeated letters, selective media leaks to malign leadership: Punjab AAP

Chandigarh, Sep 2 (AHN) Punjab Minister Aman Arora said on Wednesday that central investigative agency -- Enforcement Directorate (ED) -- is using repeated letters, selective media leaks and unclear allegations to malign the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership instead of providing substantive evidence.

He added that that Punjab Police had already sought complete documents and electronic data from the central agency, but the ED had failed to provide clear and usable evidence.

He said the BJP's "larger aim is to create chaos, intimidate political leadership and keep government officers under pressure so that the elected Punjab government could not function effectively".

Arora, who is also the State AAP President, said the repeated communications sent by the ED to the Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav, including its latest letter seeking registration of a first information report (FIR) under Section 66 (2), reflected the "desperation and frustration" of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Central government.

"The Punjab Police had already written to the ED on August 28, seeking complete documentary and electronic evidence in support of the allegations," he added.

He said the Punjab Police has clearly told the ED that the material provided so far is either unclear or not readable and that complete evidence, documents and electronic data seized during searches should be provided so that a proper investigation can be conducted.

The ED was asked to send an officer with the relevant material on September 1, but no such officer has appeared.

Arora said that the ED is deliberately floating the names of AAP leaders, including Sanjeev Arora, Lal Chand Kataruchak and himself, in the media without establishing any wrongdoing.

He also noted that attempts are being made to reach him through his long-time friend Gaurav Dhir.

Presenting the chronology of the case, Arora said the change of land use (CLU) approvals relating to the Altus project were granted on six occasions, but not a single CLU was granted during the tenure of the AAP government.

"The approvals dated November 17, 2000, May 14, 2012, June 25, 2013, February 17, 2018, March 7, 2018, and March 7, 2022, fell under previous Congress or Akali-BJP governments," he added.

Minister Arora also said the layout plans had been changed multiple times between 2011 and 2025, with several such changes taking place under previous governments.

"If the ED believes these approvals and changes were illegal, it should investigate the entire chronology and not selectively target the AAP government," he added.