The legal trouble around Jalandhar Central MLA Raman Arora is intensifying day by day. The Punjab Vigilance Bureau is leaving no stone unturned in its investigation and gathering evidence that will pin the corruption allegations against MLA Raman Arora. On Friday, the Vigilance Bureau in a major breakthrough arrested Mahesh Makhija from a factory in Phagwara. Earlier, it was alleged that Mahesh Makhija surrendered himself to the Vigilance Bureau, but later it was confirmed that he was arrested by the anti-corruption investigative agency. Mahesh Makhija's name was recently added to the FIR in the corruption case under which MLA Raman Arora has been arrested. Along with Makhija, the names of Raju Madaan (MLA's daughter's father-in-law) and Raja Arora (MLA's son) were also added.
Why is Mahesh Makhija's arrest seen as a key development in the Raman Arora case?
Mahesh Makhija, who is said to be an Arhtiya, was in hiding for the past many days after Raman Arora was arrested. Vigilance had raided multiple locations in order to nab him, but he was not found anywhere. Makhija is said to be a close aide of MLA Raman Arora.
As per reports, when the Vigilance had raided Makhija's house, they had recovered cash in lakhs from a bag near the water tanks on the rooftop. The recovered cash is suspected to be part of the MLA’s black money.
Mahesh Makhija is said to possess documents related to benami properties valued at over Rs 90 crore. It is reported that Makhija had fled from his house in a white Thar. His Thar has also been recovered. It is alleged that it was Makhija who used to invest Raman Arora's black money in real estate. A few days back, Makhija's picture with a bookie had also gone viral. The Vigilance is also probing Makhija's link with the bookie. Makhija was produced in court at 10:10 PM, where an intense argument took place between the lawyers. Makhija has been sent on a 4-day remand.
In the meantime, the Vigilance Bureau continues to find Raju Madaan and Raman Arora's son Rajan Arora in the case.
Harpreet Kaur was arrested by the Vigilance team
The Punjab Vigilance Bureau has now arrested Harpreet Kaur, an inspector with the Municipal Corporation. She was taken into custody on Thursday and brought to Jalandhar Civil Hospital for a medical examination before being moved for further questioning.
Sources within the investigation reveal that Harpreet Kaur’s name emerged during the interrogation of a local bakery owner, who claimed he was coerced into paying a bribe amounting to several lakhs. According to the bakery owner’s statement, the money was initially demanded on behalf of MLA Raman Arora for permitting the construction of his bakery. However, when he approached Arora with the payment, he was allegedly instructed to hand over the cash to Harpreet Kaur.
The Vigilance Bureau suspects that Kaur acted as a middleperson in the transaction and played a key role in facilitating the alleged corruption. Following these revelations, she was arrested and is now being questioned to uncover the full extent of the network involved.