Sanjeev Arora moves High Court seeking release, calls arrest by ED illegal, unconstitutional

PTC News Desk: Punjab Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora, currently in ED custody on Tuesday moved Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking immediate release, calling the arrest illegal and unconstitutional. 

Arora was arrested on May 9 under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.

Seeking immediate release in his petition, he called the arrest “arbitrary, mechanical, without jurisdiction, and in violation of the mandatory safeguards guaranteed under Articles 14, 21 and 22 of the Constitution of India”. 

Going into the background of the controversy, the petitioner contended that he was the promoter and former chairman of M/s Hampton Sky Realty Limited (HSRL).

The company began exporting mobile phones from the financial year 2023-24 onwards as part of its legitimate business expansion and diversification. The export transactions were conducted through a structured, transparent and fully documented process.

It was further stated that the petitioner resigned from his post as the company’s chairman and managing director after being elected to public office, and had no involvement in the day-to-day operations, management, or business affairs of the organisation thereafter.

The petitioner also submitted that no incriminating documents, digital devices, currency, unaccounted assets, or any other incriminating material were recovered during the search proceedings carried out later. ED officials arrived at his residence on May 9 to conduct search and seizure operations before recording his statement and subsequently arresting him.

Among other arguments, Arora stated that the “grounds of arrest” were completely vague and did not “disclose any material incriminating the petitioner or establish that he has committed any offence under the PMLA.”