The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has concluded its 20-hour search operation at the residential premises of AAP Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Mittal, with the operation ending at around 3:30 AM.
The searches were conducted by the ED Headquarters Investigation Unit, Delhi, which carried out coordinated operations at multiple locations linked to institutions associated with the Lovely Group.
The agency conducted searches at Lovely Professional University in Jalandhar, Tetr College of Business, and Masters’ Union College of Business in Gurgaon. As per reports the raid is still going on at LPU and Masters Union and in total, 10 locations across Jalandhar and Gurgaon were covered during the operation.
Premises linked to Ashok Mittal were also included in the searches, as these locations are associated with the same group of institutions.
According to sources, the searches were carried out under the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), with officials probing alleged violations.
The development triggered political reactions. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann alleged on social media that the action reflects the BJP’s preparation for upcoming elections, calling it a “typical Modi style” move.
AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal also reacted, stating that such developments signal the beginning of election preparations in Punjab and that the people of the state would respond strongly.
Notably, Ashok Mittal was recently appointed Deputy Leader of AAP in the Rajya Sabha, replacing Raghav Chadha. The Enforcement Directorate has not yet issued a detailed official statement regarding the outcome of the searches.
However search operations are still ongoing at Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Jalandhar and Masters’ Union College of Business in Gurugram according to reports and in total around 10 locations across Jalandhar and Gurugram have been covered so far and these include premises linked to Ashok Mittal as well as offices and campuses connected to the group’s educational institutions.
