In a major development in the ongoing Jalandhar corruption scandal, a local court has denied bail to two key accused—Rajan Arora, son of jailed AAP MLA Raman Arora, and Sukhdev Vashisht, Assistant Town Planner with the Municipal Corporation. While Rajan’s anticipatory bail plea was turned down, Vashisht’s request for regular bail also met the same fate.
Case background
The case, which has rocked the Aam Aadmi Party’s local unit, revolves around an alleged extortion racket operating within the Jalandhar Municipal Corporation. On May 23, the Vigilance Bureau arrested MLA Raman Arora after a month-long investigation revealed that he, along with ATP Sukhdev Vashisht and others, was allegedly extorting money from property owners.
The modus operandi? Issuing fake or unlawful building notices, then demanding bribes to “resolve” the issues.
Rajan Arora—Raman’s son—and Raju Madaan (his daughter’s father-in-law) have also been named in the FIR. While Madaan is also on the run, Rajan Arora remains absconding, with special teams trying to track them down.
During raids, officials recovered cash, gold, and incriminating documents, including 75–80 illegal notices believed to be used in the extortion scheme.
What happened in court
On June 6, Additional Sessions Judge Jaswinder Singh heard both bail applications. Given the seriousness of the charges and fresh evidence presented by the Vigilance Bureau, the court ruled against granting any relief.
The judge stressed the need for custodial interrogation, especially in Rajan’s case, as investigators continue to unearth more links.
What’s next?
The Vigilance Bureau’s investigation is still unfolding. More officials and close aides of the MLA may come under the scanner in the coming days. With forensic analysis ongoing and more raids expected, sources say fresh arrests and disclosures are likely.
This court order comes as a major blow to the accused and reinforces the Punjab government’s stated push against corruption in public offices. The case is being closely watched—both politically and legally—as it could set the tone for how serious anti-graft measures will be in the months ahead.