AAP, ED Face-Off Intensifies in Punjab

• ED has sent a third letter seeking an FIR from Punjab Police.
• AAP leaders Aman Arora and Kuldeep Dhaliwal accused the Centre of political targeting.
• Punjab Police had sought additional documents and evidence from the ED.
• The Punjab and Haryana High Court is set to hear the matter on September 3.

GG News Bureau
Chandigarh, 3rd Sept: The political confrontation between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab government and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has intensified after the central agency sent a third communication seeking registration of an FIR in an alleged money-laundering case.

The dispute centres on an ED investigation linked to alleged corruption involving transfers and postings of government officials, government approvals, arms licences and land deals. The ED has sought action from Punjab Police under Section 66(2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

The ED had earlier written to the Punjab DGP on July 30 and August 7. In its latest letter, dated August 31, the agency responded to a Punjab Police communication of August 28 seeking an authorised ED officer and complete records, including electronic data, chain-of-custody documents and statements.

AAP questions ED evidence
Addressing the media in Amritsar, AAP chief spokesperson and MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal accused the ED and the BJP-led Centre of using the agency to target the Punjab government and AAP leaders.

Dhaliwal said Punjab Police had sought documents from the ED and alleged that the agency had not sent an officer to clarify the material. He claimed that the documents supplied to the police were not readable and that an ED representative was asked to appear with the relevant records.

He alleged that the proceedings were being used to create a negative political narrative against the Bhagwant Mann government.

Aman Arora demands ‘clear and usable evidence’
Punjab AAP president and minister Aman Arora also criticised the ED’s repeated requests for an FIR.

Arora said no FIR should be registered until the ED provides Punjab Police with “clear, complete and usable evidence”. He accused the central agency of relying on repeated letters and media leaks instead of providing substantive evidence.

The AAP leader described the controversy as a political campaign by the BJP-led Centre to target and defame the state government and its leaders.

ED maintains evidence was shared
The ED, however, has maintained that it already shared information and supporting material with the Punjab DGP under Section 66(2) of the PMLA.

In its August 31 communication, the agency said the material was shared after examination and assessment by its office and approval of the competent authority. It also argued that Section 66(2) does not make registration of an FIR conditional on the receiving police agency obtaining additional original data or chain-of-custody documentation.

The agency has pressed Punjab Police to act on the information provided and register a case.

High Court hearing adds to pressure
The dispute has also reached the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which is scheduled to hear on September 3 a PIL seeking an independent investigation into the ED communication to the Punjab DGP.

The court had earlier sought responses from the Punjab government, DGP, CBI, Punjab Vigilance Bureau and ED. The allegations under investigation have not been established by a court.

The developing ED-Punjab Police standoff has added another political flashpoint in Punjab ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, with the AAP framing the matter as a confrontation between the Centre and the state, while the ED maintains that its request is based on material gathered during its investigation.