The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday conducted raids at multiple premises linked to Ashok Kumar Mittal, a Rajya Sabha MP from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), across Punjab and Haryana as part of an investigation under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). Around 8-10 locations in Jalandhar, Phagwara and Gurugram were searched, including premises of Lovely Professional University (LPU) and other institutions linked to the Lovely Group.
Officials said the raids are related to suspected irregularities in overseas financial transactions involving educational entities connected to Mittal. The development has triggered political reactions, with AAP leaders alleging the action is politically motivated ahead of elections, while ED officials maintain the searches are part of an ongoing financial compliance probe.
Financial Probe Into Education Institutions
According to officials, the ED searches covered a range of properties associated with the Lovely Group, the education and business conglomerate headed by Mittal. These included the campus of Lovely Professional University in Phagwara, as well as Gurugram-based institutions such as Tetr College of Business and Masters’ Union College of Business.
Investigators are reportedly examining financial records and documents related to foreign exchange dealings and cross-border transactions linked to these entities. Authorities said the searches were carried out simultaneously at residential, commercial, and institutional premises connected to Mittal and members of his family, including business establishments within the Lovely Group.
The operation, carried out by ED teams with central security support, is aimed at gathering evidence regarding alleged FEMA violations. No arrests had been reported at the time of writing, and officials indicated that the investigation is still underway, with further details expected once documents and digital records are analysed.
Political Reactions To Raids
The enforcement action comes shortly after Mittal was appointed deputy leader of the AAP in the Rajya Sabha, replacing fellow MP Raghav Chadha following a reshuffle within the party’s parliamentary leadership. Mittal, a 61-year-old educationist and businessman, entered Parliament in 2022 representing Punjab and is widely known as the founder and chancellor of Lovely Professional University, one of India’s largest private universities.
The timing of the raids has sparked a political row in the state, with senior AAP leaders accusing the central government of targeting opposition figures through investigative agencies. Bhagwant Mann, the Chief Minister of Punjab, criticised the raids publicly, describing them as an attempt to influence the political climate ahead of future elections in the state.
Meanwhile, AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal also alleged that central agencies were being used to pressure opposition leaders. Enforcement officials, however, have maintained that the searches are strictly part of a financial investigation under FEMA and are not politically motivated.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Investigations involving public representatives and influential institutions inevitably draw widespread attention, particularly when they intersect with politics, education, and governance. Ensuring financial transparency and compliance with regulations such as the Foreign Exchange Management Act is essential for maintaining public trust in both institutions and public office. At the same time, it is equally important that investigative processes remain transparent, impartial, and guided by due process to avoid perceptions of political bias.
