A team from the Enforcement Directorate initiated an extensive search operation at the Hoshiarpur residence of senior Congress leader and former Punjab cabinet minister Sunder Sham Arora in the early hours of November 2. The central agency officials arrived at the premises around 5 AM in a convoy of three to four vehicles and commenced their inquiry immediately upon entering. Sunder Sham Arora was present inside the residence when the search party arrived. Armed personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force were stationed alongside the investigation team to secure the premises during the search.
Document Scrutiny and Search Procedures
Inside the residential property, investigators are reviewing financial records, personal files, and related documentation. Official details specifying the exact nature of the case or the formal complaint prompting the inspection have not yet been released. A formal communication from the federal agency is awaited to clarify the specific scope and grounds of the operation. Preliminary indications suggest that the ongoing inquiry may pertain to matters connected with money laundering, though precise aspects will become evident only after an official statement is released.
Past Inquiries by Income Tax and Vigilance Authorities
This development follows earlier administrative actions against Sunder Sham Arora by multiple investigative bodies. His locations had previously undergone scrutiny by both the Income Tax Department and the Punjab Vigilance Bureau. During his tenure as a cabinet minister, he faced severe accusations involving corruption and financial misconduct. In one prominent incident, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau arrested Sunder Sham Arora on charges of attempting to bribe a vigilance official with 50 lakh rupees. That specific bribery case continues to remain pending before the judiciary.
Intensified Political Activity in Hoshiarpur
Beyond the bribery proceedings, the former minister has been subjected to scrutiny in connection with several other administrative and economic allegations. The unannounced search initiated on the morning of November 2 has led to heightened political discussion across Hoshiarpur and the broader region. Agency personnel continue to inspect financial papers and domestic records inside the house while the inquiry proceeds.
