The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) on Friday arrested Jalandhar Central Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Raman Arora after conducting a raid in a corruption case.
The case also involves former assistant town planner (ATP) of the municipal corporation, Sukhdev Vashisht, who was held last week, according to a report by Hindustan Times.
Ever since the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) assumed power in Punjab in March 2022, several of its elected representatives have found themselves entangled in legal issues, ranging from corruption charges to allegations of bribery and misconduct. Raman Arora, the party’s Jalandhar MLA, is the latest to face a vigilance raid on Friday on corruption charges.
Arora allegedly used Vashisht to issue bogus notices and extort money from targeted individuals. The raids were conducted following complaints against him.
Following the arrest, his own party, AAP, took to X and posted, "(Bhagwant) Mann sarkar’s big action against corruption. No one is above the law — not even within the AAP. Vigilance raids MLA Raman Arora over fake Nagar Nigam notices, extortion and digital scams. This is what real accountability looks like.”
Even Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, in a video message, reiterated the government's stance on corruption, saying, "No mercy upon the corrupt. Our policy on corruption is absolutely clear. Whether someone is our own or an outsider, anyone who indulges in any form of corruption will not be tolerated and legal action will definitely be taken.
The Punjab government had withdrawn Arora’s security cover of 14 police personnel on May 12 after which action was evident against the MLA.
Raman Arora, who is the third AAP MLA facing the Vigilance Bureau's action for corruption in three years, was arrested after eight hours of questioning.
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