Punjab’s AAP MLA in vigilance net, arrested by law enforcement agency
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in News/ May 23,2025
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of Punjab has got a vigilance raid done at the house of its own MLA Raman Arora from Jalandhar Central.
AAP MLA Raman Arora has reportedly been arrested by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) while visiting a temple.
Disclosing this here today, an official spokesperson of the VB stated that on 14 May 2025, a joint complaint signed by three office bearers of the Engineers and Building Designer Association, Jalandhar, was received by the Bureau, where it was alleged that one Sukhdev Vashisht, Assistant Town Planner (ATP), Municipal Corporation, Jalandhar, often demands illegal gratification from them, and further that whenever he goes out in his area of jurisdiction, he threatens people that their buildings would be sealed and demolished. It was further alleged that he has many files pending with him, even though same have been cleared by other wings of the Municipal Corporation (MC).
The spokesperson further added that after examination of this complaint, the VB Jalandhar Range has registered a FIR no. 23, dated 14/05/2025 under section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act against the said Sukhdev Vashisht, ATP, MC Jalandhar on the complaint of Er. Sunil Katyal, President, Engineers and Building Designer Association, Jalandhar, Punjab. The VB had arrested above mentioned accused Sukhdev Vashisth on 14/05/2025 itself and proceeded with its investigation. It was revealed during investigation that accused Sukhdev Vashisth was posted in Pathankot in the substantive rank of Senior Draftsman, but held the additional charge of ATP Jalandhar MC also. The accused had continuously been posted in Jalandhar, with small breaks in-between, from April 2022 till now.
During the search of the office premises and the residence of the arrested ATP Sukhdev Vashisth, among other incriminating documents and material evidence, hundreds of official notices for unauthorised construction and related matters were recovered from his personal possession and office records. Some of these notices were not found to be even entered in the dispatch register. Other documents, pending without action for very long periods of time without reason, were also recovered.
The spokesperson added that further investigation revealed that a unique modus operandi was being followed by the arrested official in connivance with a local politician for extorting money from people of the city and indulging in corruption. The arrested ATP, at the behest and in consultation with MLA Raman Arora, would identify constructed or under-construction buildings, both commercial as well as residential, and serve them notices for alleged violations. When the building owners, or their representatives, would approach the concerned official, he would direct them to the said MLA. The said MLA would then settle the matter by taking illegal gratification. Upon receiving an affirmative message from the said MLA, the files would be consigned by the accused ATP and no action initiated. Close to 75-80 such notices related to the said nexus have been recovered. The same modus operandi would be followed in clearing other files too.
Punjab’s AAP MLA in vigilance net, arrested by law enforcement agency. Detailed physical and documentary verification of each notice and other documents are underway through technical teams of the Bureau and the Local Bodies Department, and many shortcomings have come to light, he said.
As per available information, the MLA is accused of sending notices to people through Jalandhar Municipal Corporation. Then he got the notices quashed by taking money. The arrest is linked to a corruption case involving former Assistant Town Planner (ATP) of the Municipal Corporation, Sukhdev Vashisht, who was arrested last week.
Punjab’s AAP MLA in vigilance net, arrested by law enforcement agency. Arora is the third AAP MLA facing VB action for corruption in three years. His arrest comes exactly three years after the VB arrested former health minister and Mansa MLA Dr Vijay Singla for corruption on May 24, 2022. Bathinda Rural AAP MLA Amit Rattan Kotfatta was caught in a corruption case on February 23, 2023.
Though VB officials were tightlipped, the AAP posted the development on X: “(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.”
More details are awaited.
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