ED raids sparks political uproar in Punjab

Even as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) continued to conduct survey and search operations at offices of the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) in Punjab’s Mohali and premises linked to senior housing and urban development officials in connection with an alleged money laundering probe, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday (September 24, 2026) blamed the BJP for weaponising central agencies to intimidate opponents ahead of upcoming assembly elections.

AAP workers staged a protest outside the office of GMADA in Mohali on Thursday (September 24), where the ED was conducting its search operation as part of its investigation, which began on Tuesday. The ED also searched the residence of the nephew of Punjab cabinet minister Hardeep Singh Mundian in Sahnewal in Ludhiana on Wednesday (September 23).

Mr. Mundia, addressing a press conference here, said, “The BJP is trying to fight elections through fear after failing to generate public enthusiasm at its rallies. Punjab is not a place where people can be intimidated through ED raids or threats. We are Punjabis and we are not afraid,” he said.

Senior AAP leader and cabinet minister Harpal Singh Cheema said the ED action had disrupted government work across Punjab for three days, causing severe inconvenience to people, while the searches had yielded nothing. “The BJP government’s use of the ED, Income Tax Department and Election Commission against opposition states had become its trademark, but Punjab would not be intimidated and the three crore Punjabis would give the BJP a democratic reply,” he said.

Mr. Cheema said the conduct of officials during searches had also raised serious concerns. “During a raid at the house of a relative of an AAP Minister, ED officers tried to intimidate children and elderly family members. Is this the manner in which a central investigating agency is supposed to function? The use of such pressure tactics cannot frighten the people of Punjab,” he said.

Hitting back, Punjab BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon “The AAP government should address the issues under investigation through facts and records rather than political allegations. If there is nothing to hide, there is no reason to fear an investigation. The questions raised by the agency must be answered with documents and facts, not through press conferences and protests,” he said in a statement.

Shiromani Akali Dal also took a shot at the AAP. Senior SAD leader Daljit Cheema said the ED raids have exposed the real face of the AAP before Punjabis. He said it was surprising that AAP was going into overdrive over raids at the GMADA office. “If any officer has done any wrong, the party should not get worked up. Instead, it should be happy and support the ED action and also ask for details of the corruption unearthed by the central agency in order to take action against the guilty officers”.