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The Enforcement Directorate raided the business establishments of Ashok Mittal, a Rajya Sabha MP from the Aam Aadmi Party, on Wednesday. Officials conducted the operation under the Foreign Exchange Management Act.
Ashok Mittal, a 61-year-old businessman and educationist, leads the Lovely Group, which operates Lovely Professional University. He recently replaced Raghav Chadha as AAP’s deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha.
ED teams searched 8–9 locations across Jalandhar, Phagwara, and Gurugram. Officials searched Mittal’s residences, business premises, and farmhouse. They also searched premises linked to his son and properties associated with his brothers, Ramesh Mittal and Naresh Mittal.
Investigators targeted key units of the Lovely Group, including Lovely Professional University, Lovely Autos, Lovely Sweets, and the Lovely Distance Education Centre. Officials examined documents and financial records at the LPU campus in Jalandhar. Sources said investigators suspect irregularities in financial transactions and fund flows linked to the group’s operations.
Officials said they are probing alleged violations in foreign exchange dealings and overseas funding under FEMA.
Arvind Kejriwal criticized the raids and accused the BJP of targeting opposition leaders through central agencies ahead of elections in Punjab. He said voters will give a strong reply. AAP leader Sanjay Singh also accused the central government of using agencies before elections and said the action against Mittal will not benefit the BJP.
