Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Raman Arora appeared before Enforcement Directorate (ED) office in Jalandhar in connection with an ongoing money laundering investigation and this was his second visit to ED office within the last nine days.
Raman Arora arrived at ED office in morning carrying a file containing documents and before entering the office he avoided speaking to media persons waiting outside and went directly inside the premises and as per reports he remained inside the office for around two hours during which ED officials questioned him regarding the investigation.
After the questioning ended Raman Arora came out of the office but did not interact with media and left the premises in a car along with his son.
The latest appearance came after ED issued a fresh notice to the MLA.
Earlier on June 2 Arora had appeared before the agency after receiving a summons and he had also submitted documents sought by the agency. The ED investigation is linked to a case registered by Punjab Vigilance Bureau and the central agency started its money laundering probe on basis of FIR filed by Vigilance Bureau and as part of the investigation ED has been seeking documents and information related to the case.
According to officials when Raman Arora appeared before ED office on June 2 his mobile phone and other personal belongings were collected before questioning process began and his statement was recorded under provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Vigilance Bureau case relates to allegations that Raman Arora possessed assets disproportionate to his known sources of income and according to investigation conducted by Vigilance Bureau the alleged disproportionate assets were valued at around ₹1.10 crore and following his arrest in the case Arora was remanded to five days of police custody for further investigation and he is currently out on bail in corruption case.
In its chargesheet Punjab Vigilance Bureau alleged that Raman Arora was involved in extorting money from shops and other commercial establishments in Jalandhar and the chargesheet further alleged that he along with Assistant Town Planner (ATP) Sukhdev Vashisht was involved in issuing illegal notices to property owners and according to allegations the notices warned property owners of sealing and demolition action and Vigilance Bureau claimed that illegal bribes were demanded from property owners in exchange for withdrawing notices or settling the cases.
ED is now examining whether any proceeds of crime were generated from alleged activities and whether the matter falls under provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
Apart from Vigilance Bureau case Raman Arora had also faced an extortion case registered by Jalandhar Commissionerate Police on August 23 last year however a court later granted him bail on September 22. ED's questioning is part of its ongoing investigation into allegations and related financial transactions and officials are examining documents and other evidence connected to the case.
