AAP Minister Sanjeev Arora approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court, challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case and terming the entire action a case of “political victimisation” amid the ongoing political battle between the BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab.

The matter came up before a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjeev Berry during the hearing of Sanjeev Arora’s petition challenging both his arrest and the remand order passed by a Gurugram court. Appearing on behalf of Sanjeev Arora, Senior Advocate Puneet Bali argued that the ED action was part of a larger political conspiracy and sought parity with relief recently granted by the High Court to BJP MPs.

Calling the case a “shocking instance of political vendetta,” Sanjeev Arora’s counsel told the Court, “This is a case of political victimisation. I want to show two recent orders passed by Your Lordships where protection was granted against political retaliation. I seek equality.”

Referring to recent proceedings involving former AAP MPs Sandeep Pathak and Rajinder Gupta, who later joined the BJP along with other MPs, Sanjev Arora’s counsel argued that the Court had intervened to protect them from coercive action and security threats. He submitted before the Bench, “Punjab is witnessing a battle of political vendetta. Your Lordships protected two persons from the other side. I am merely on the other side.”

The Court later posted the matter for further hearing on May 14.

Sanjeev Arora was arrested by the ED on May 9 in connection with allegations linked to Hampton Sky Realty Limited, where he previously served as Chairman and Managing Director. The ED has accused the company of violating FEMA regulations and alleged that exports were shown without any actual movement of goods.

However, Senior Advocate Puneet Bali strongly contested the allegations and argued that every transaction was conducted through proper banking channels and cheque payments, while exports were carried out with customs clearance.

Puneet Bali submitted before the Court, “How can I be implicated merely because one vendor’s GST number was not operational? They have not even proceeded against those persons.”

Questioning the legality of the ED proceedings, Bali argued that the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) itself was not maintainable as it was entirely based on an FIR registered by Gurugram Police under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

He further contended that despite clear Supreme Court directions, the police failed to upload the FIR and provide a copy to the accused. “The FIR was registered at 1:50 AM without any preliminary inquiry. This is extremely harsh. You register an FIR and do not even provide a copy? I have screenshots from the police portal showing it was blocked,” Sanjeev Arora’s counsel submitted.

He further argued that the ED initiated proceedings under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) without waiting for any substantive police investigation. “This is completely illegal. It is entirely a case of political vendetta,” he told the Court.

Drawing comparisons with BJP MP Ashok Mittal, who recently joined the BJP, Bali alleged selective targeting by the ED. “Two FEMA raids were conducted. One was against Shri Ashok Mittal. He left the party and joined the ruling party, and no arrest followed. This is a complete political conspiracy,” he argued.

Sanjeev Arora also challenged the legality of his arrest procedure, informing the Court that Arora was arrested at 7 AM while the grounds of arrest were supplied only at 4 PM. “I was arrested at 7 in the morning, but grounds of arrest were supplied at 4 PM. The remand order was passed mechanically without considering any of my submissions. The complainant and prosecutor are both the ED. This is illegal in law,” he submitted.

After hearing arguments till 1 PM, the Bench deferred the matter for further hearing on May 14.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday secured major assurances from the Centre for completion of several long-pending highway and flyover projects in Punjab after a crucial meeting with Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, with stalled infrastructure works at Makhu, Adampur and Bhawanigarh set to move forward and key road corridors across the state likely to witness large-scale expansion and four-laning.

During the meeting, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann also raised Punjab’s demand for declaring strategically important roads, including the Ferozepur-Fazilka corridor near the international border, as National Highways, while pressing for faster execution of projects that have remained stuck for years due to delays and bottlenecks. The Chief Minister said the Centre also assured four-laning of the Bhawanigarh-Kotshamir road via Sunam, Cheema Mandi, Bhikhi, Mansa and Maur, besides expansion of the Barnala-Bajakhana and Malerkotla-Barnala corridors, in what is being seen as a major push for Punjab’s road connectivity, economic movement and public safety.

CM Bhagwant Singh Mann further stated that Union Minister Nitin Gadkari highly appreciated the functioning of the Punjab Government’s ‘Sadak Surakhya Force’, launched to protect lives and ensure safer highways across the state.

During the meeting held in New Delhi, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann raised the issue of the delayed Wallah Flyover project in Amritsar and urged Nitin Gadkari to expedite the work in larger public interest. “The Wallah Flyover project was awarded by the National Highways Authority of India and was originally expected to be completed by September 15, 2023. However, despite repeated extensions, the project remains incomplete, with physical progress currently at around 76 per cent against the revised completion date of April 30, 2026,” he said.

TheChief Minister noted, “The corridor is critically important as it connects Amritsar Airport with Sri Harmandir Sahib and handles heavy traffic movement, including frequent movement of VIPs. The continued delay in the project has resulted in severe congestion, safety concerns and immense inconvenience for commuters and local residents.”

“It is the need of the hour that NHAI takes urgent remedial action for expeditious completion of the remaining work on the Wallah Flyover so that the project is completed in a time-bound manner,” asserted the Chief Minister.

Flagging another important issue, the Chief Minister also sought speedy approval and execution of the four-laning project of the Jalandhar-Hoshiarpur-Manali Road on NH-70. “The Jalandhar-Hoshiarpur road section is an important road corridor from religious, tourism, economic and strategic perspectives. It provides connectivity from various districts of Punjab to major religious and tourist destinations in Himachal Pradesh, including Mata Chintpurni Ji Temple, Mata Jawala Ji Temple, Mata Chamunda Devi Ji Temple, Dharamshala, Manali and Palampur,” he said.

“The corridor also assumes strategic importance because Adampur Airport and Airbase are located along this stretch, serving the Doaba region and being used regularly for movement of VVIPs during their visits,” he added.

The Chief Minister stated, “A project for development of the Jalandhar-Hoshiarpur road section into a four-lane corridor had been sanctioned in 2016, but was subsequently terminated by both the contractor and the government. The DPR for the remaining work will be submitted shortly to the Ministry and this project is extremely important for Punjab. I urge the Ministry to ensure speedy approval and sanction so that work can begin at the earliest.”

Seeking declaration of the Chandigarh-Landran-Chunni-Sirhind Road as a National Highway, the Chief Minister said the road is an extremely important State Highway connecting SAS Nagar district with Fatehgarh Sahib district, which holds immense historical significance. “The road starts near Gurudwara Singh Shaheedan Sahib in Sohana and passes through Lakhnaur, Landran, Jhanjheri and Chunni before ending at Fatehgarh Sahib. At present, it is mainly two-laned with a 10-metre carriageway width, although some portions have already been widened to four lanes,” he said.

“The Ambala-Chandigarh Greenfield Highway project under the Bharatmala Project also crosses this road at village Jhanjheri,” he added.

CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Every year during the month of December, lakhs of devotees visit Fatehgarh Sahib during the Shaheedi Sabha to pay homage to Sahibzada Baba Zorawar Singh Ji and Sahibzada Baba Fateh Singh Ji. The 37.26-km-long road witnesses massive traffic movement during this period because of its immense historical and religious significance. Keeping in view the strategic and historic importance of this road, it is imperative that it is declared as a National Highway.”

The Chief Minister also strongly pursued the declaration of the Dharamkot-Zira-Ferozepur-Fazilka road as a National Highway. “The road acts as a vital link with National Highways in Punjab and also carries immense strategic importance because it runs close to the International Border with Pakistan. The corridor is crucial from the defence and security point of view. Defence authorities in Ferozepur have repeatedly highlighted the need to widen the road into a four-lane corridor for ensuring faster and safer movement of military vehicles,” he added.

“The total length of the road is 144.555 km and its average fatality rate is higher than that of many National Highways. The corridor has 11 identified black spots and the Ferozepur-Fazilka section witnessed 162 accidents between 2020 and 2022, out of which 138 accidents were fatal,” he said.

“In view of its inter-National Highway connectivity, strategic and defence importance, heavy traffic movement and serious road safety concerns, the Dharamkot-Zira-Ferozepur-Fazilka road should be declared a National Highway at the earliest,” he added.

The Chief Minister also sought declaration of the Balachaur-Hoshiarpur-Dasuya road as a National Highway. “The road stretches over 104.96 km and connects the Phagwara-Rupnagar National Highway with the Pathankot-Jalandhar National Highway, thereby serving as an important link between Chandigarh/Mohali and Pathankot/Jammu & Kashmir,” he said.

CM Bhagwant Singh Mann added, “Due to its strategic connectivity and regional importance, the corridor carries heavy passenger, transport and commercial traffic. Most stretches presently have an undivided carriageway, resulting in traffic congestion, frequent accidents and considerable delays for commuters.”

Raising another issue, the Chief Minister highlighted the urgent need for installation of a view cutter on the flyover at Husner Chowk in Gidderbaha on the Bathinda-Malout Road, which falls under the jurisdiction of NHAI. “Densely populated residential colonies and commercial establishments exist on both sides of the flyover and therefore installation of a view cutter is essential for public safety, smooth traffic movement and convenience of commuters,” he said.

The Chief Minister also sought four-laning of the 53.76-km-long Bhawanigarh-Sunam-Bhikhi road and demanded that it be declared a National Highway because of its strategic importance. “The road connects Patiala and Sangrur districts with Bathinda, Mansa, Talwandi Sabo, Sirsa and other important destinations in Punjab as well as adjoining areas of Haryana. It carries heavy daily traffic and serves as a major corridor for passenger and goods movement,” he added.

“While the Patiala-Bhawanigarh stretch of NH-7 has already been developed into a four-lane highway ensuring high-capacity connectivity up to Bhawanigarh, the Bhawanigarh-Sunam-Bhikhi stretch continues as a two-lane road,” he added.

“This abrupt transition from a four-lane National Highway to a two-lane State Highway has created a severe bottleneck, resulting in congestion, reduced travel efficiency and increased accident risk,” CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated.

The Chief Minister stated, “Substantial stretches of the road already have adequate Right of Way and certain portions, including Sunam, Cheema and Bhikhi, have already been widened to four lanes. Declaring this road as a National Highway along with four-laning will improve traffic flow, reduce congestion, enhance road safety and support regional economic development.”

The Chief Minister also urged Nitin Gadkari to declare the Banga-Garhshankar-Sri Anandpur Sahib road as a National Highway. “The road connects major religious destinations including Sri Anandpur Sahib and Sri Kiratpur Sahib and further links Himachal Pradesh for economic, tourism and religious purposes. Both domestic and foreign tourists regularly visit these religious places and further travel to Mata Naina Devi Ji Mandir in Himachal Pradesh, due to which the road should be accorded National Highway status,” he added.

Raising another important issue, the Chief Minister also demanded that the Barnala-Bajakhana road be declared a National Highway. “The road is a strategically important corridor facilitating traffic movement for Barnala, Mansa and Bathinda districts while also providing connectivity to major commercial, agricultural and industrial centres of the Malwa region and adjoining Rajasthan. The existing two-lane configuration is inadequate to cater to current and future traffic requirements, making its declaration as a National Highway and four-laning essential,” he added.

The Chief Minister also sought four-laning of the Barnala-Malerkotla via Sherpur road and demanded its declaration as a National Highway. “The corridor facilitates movement for Barnala, Sangrur and Malerkotla districts while also connecting major agricultural, industrial and commercial centres in the Malwa region. This project will significantly improve connectivity between Barnala, Sangrur and Malerkotla, besides reducing congestion, travel time, vehicle operating costs and accident risks,” he added.

Highlighting another important issue, the Chief Minister also strongly pitched for construction of an elevated corridor or flyover at Bhawanigarh town to address growing traffic congestion and safety concerns. “Bhawanigarh is a densely populated town where commercial establishments and markets have developed along both sides of the National Highway. Because of flyovers on both sides of the town, fast-moving traffic enters directly into the city, resulting in accidents and congestion,” CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said.

“I urge NHAI to examine and undertake construction of an elevated corridor or flyover through Bhawanigarh in the interest of public safety, decongestion and smooth movement of traffic,” he added.

Meanwhile, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann also urged the Union Minister to release pending payments under the Setu Bandhan Programme of the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) Scheme. “The Punjab Government has already initiated works under the scheme and now funds are urgently required for clearing pending liabilities related to ongoing projects. Progress of several construction works is being adversely affected due to non-release of funds by the Ministry,” CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said. “Immediate release of pending funds is necessary to ensure uninterrupted progress of these crucial infrastructure projects,” he added.

CM Bhagwant Singh Mann also sought early completion of the Railway Over Bridge at Makhu town on NH-54.

Sharing a few snippets from the meeting on X, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated: “Today in Delhi, I met Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari Ji. During the meeting, we held detailed discussions on several important NHAI-related projects and issues concerning Punjab. In particular, views were exchanged regarding the ‘Sadak Surakhya Force (SSF)’. Gadkari Ji highly appreciated this unique initiative undertaken by our government to protect the lives and property of people.”