The raids triggered political reactions, with AAP leaders accusing the Centre of misusing investigative agencies ahead of elections. | Photo Credit: ANI

The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday carried out searches against AAP Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Kumar Mittal and Lovely Professional University (LPU), promoted by him and his family, as part of a Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) probe, officials said.

Searches across multiple locations

Mittal had replaced Raghav Chadha, who fell out of favour with former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for not taking party positions in the Upper House and going soft towards the BJP-led NDA regime at the Centre, as AAP’s Rajya Sabha deputy leader.

The searches were spread across about 10 locations in Jalandhar, Kapurthala and Gurugram.

This includes the premises of Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Phagwara (Kapurthala district) and two linked educational institutions -- Tetr College of Business and Masters Union College of Business -- in Gurugram, ED officials said.

Alleged FEMA violations under probe

Mittal, 61, is also the Chancellor of LPU, while his son Pratham Mittal founded the Tetr College of Business and the Master’s Union College of Business.

These institutions’ few overseas financial transactions have allegedly contravened provisions of the FEMA, inviting ED action, officials stated.

The investigators have recorded preliminary statements from some persons found during searches at 10 locations, they said.

Political reactions intensify

Condemning raids, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said the BJP has begun its “preparations” for the upcoming Assembly elections in the AAP-ruled state.

AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, while sharing Mann’s post on X, accused the Centre of misusing central investigating agencies.

AAP Chief Spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar, however, stated that “there are no coincidences in politics. We have learned from reliable sources that Raghav Chadha recently held a meeting with top leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party. In that meeting, it was decided that he would be given Z+ security. It was also decided that raids would be conducted against Ashok Mittal, who had been assigned the responsibility of Deputy Leader of the Upper House in his place.”

“I think this is very unfortunate. His conduct appears ungrateful. The party that elevated him from an ordinary person to the Rajya Sabha is now facing this kind of response from him,” she added.

Published on April 15, 2026