Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) Jalandhar Central MLA Raman Arora was arrested on Thursday by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau in connection with an alleged fraud case following a raid at his residence.
Reports indicate the AAP MLA is accused of allegedly defrauding individuals in collusion with certain government officials. Searches were conducted at his residence as part of an ongoing investigation into cheating allegations.
According to an India Today report, the case involves alleged misuse of power and manipulation for personal gain. Arora is suspected of issuing fraudulent notices to individuals with the assistance of certain Jalandhar officials for extortion purposes.
AAP spokesperson Neel Garg confirmed the raid at Arora's residence. The party stated on X (formerly Twitter): "Major anti-corruption action by Bhagwant Mann's administration. The law applies equally to all - including AAP members. Vigilance officials raided MLA Raman Arora regarding fraudulent municipal notices, extortion and digital fraud schemes. This demonstrates genuine accountability."
According to the news agency IANS, the Vigilance team recovered a printer and cash-counting machine from Arora's home.
After the arrest, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in a statement said, "Our stance on corruption is absolutely clear... Whether it's someone from our own ranks or an outsider... We will not tolerate any form of corruption whatsoever, and legal action will undoubtedly be taken."
The arrest came days after the state withdrew Arora's security detail of 14 armed guards. The MLA expressed surprise at the withdrawal, stating he hadn't received any explanation.
