Aman Arora dares ED: “Prove even Rs 1 misappropriation, I will quit politics’
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, May 8, 2026: Punjab Cabinet Minister Aman Arora launched a sharp attack on the Enforcement Directorate (ED) over its recent action, alleging political vendetta and a deliberate attempt to malign his image. Addressing a press conference, Arora said if the ED proves “even a one-rupee misappropriation” against him, he would quit politics.
Explaining the sequence of events from Thursday morning till evening, Arora said he had gone to visit his ailing mother in the ICU before attending departmental meetings throughout the day. Referring to viral videos showing bags allegedly filled with cash, he said he too was shocked initially, but later realised that his name was being “deliberately dragged” into the matter through his close associate, Gaurav Dhir.
Questioning the ED’s conduct, Arora claimed the agency first issued a statement in the evening without mentioning Gaurav Dhir’s name, but released another statement within half an hour allegedly adding a final paragraph only to link and defame him politically.
The minister acknowledged that Gaurav Dhir has been his close friend for the last 22 years and said he would not distance himself from his friendship under pressure. “My legs are not so weak that I will abandon my friends out of fear of an investigation,” he remarked. However, he clarified that he has no connection whatsoever with any of Dhir’s business dealings.
Throwing an open challenge to the ED, Arora said the agency is free to summon him and examine his phone records. He stated that if names such as Suresh Bajaj, Nitin Goyal or Ajay Sehgal are found saved in his phone contacts, he would be ready to face any punishment.
Arora further alleged selective targeting by investigative agencies, claiming that Suresh Bajaj had also donated ₹2.5 lakh to the BJP during 2022-23, but the ED did not mention this aspect in its statement.
Targeting the Centre, the Punjab minister accused the BJP-led government of misusing agencies such as the ED and CBI to pressure opposition leaders ahead of elections. He said he has been in politics since 1991 and has never demanded money from anyone.
Responding to allegations linked to a land scam, Arora said the project being labelled as fraudulent had already cleared all dues to the Punjab government and obtained a “No Due Certificate.” He asserted that the entire controversy is an attempt to suppress leaders engaged in clean politics, adding that “the people of Punjab understand everything.”