Chandigarh: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has escalated its actions against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders, extending its reach from Delhi to Punjab. On Monday, Punjab AAP MLA Professor Jaswant Singh was detained by the ED. In response to this development, party leader Malvinder Singh Kang stated, “This is undeniably an old matter that predates Jaswant Singh’s affiliation with the Aam Aadmi Party. However, the timing and manner of the ED’s actions during a public gathering raise questions.” The ED is currently conducting an interrogation of the AAP MLA at its Jalandhar office. Reportedly, MLA Jaswant Singh Gajjan Majra was apprehended while conducting a meeting with his associates and subsequently brought to the ED’s Jalandhar office under tight security for questioning.
Back on September 9, 2022, the ED had conducted a 14-hour-long raid at MLA Jaswant Singh Gajjan Majra’s residence. Earlier in May, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had also raided Majra’s premises. These actions are related to an ongoing investigation into bank fraud allegations. The CBI initiated the investigation after a complaint was lodged by the Ludhiana branch of the Bank of India.
Jaswant Singh Gajjan Majra is facing accusations of involvement in a bank fraud case amounting to approximately Rs 40 crore. The bank had filed a complaint with the CBI, stating that the AAP MLA was a director and guarantor in the Gajjan Majra Company, along with his brothers Balwant Singh and Kulwant, as well as his nephew Tejinder, all of whom are directors and guarantors of the company, and cases have been registered against each of them. The FIR also mentioned another company called Tara Health Foods Limited, alleging that the directors of the company deceived the bank out of Rs 40.92 crore through fake stocks and manipulated accounting records. The CBI’s investigation reportedly uncovered evidence of this fraud.
Jaswant Singh Gajjan Majra gained prominence for his declaration that he would accept only one rupee as his MLA salary and submitted an affidavit to the Assembly in this regard. Similar to the challenges faced by AAP leaders in Delhi, their counterparts in Punjab are also encountering difficulties. Recently, the ED had conducted raids at the premises of AAP MLA Kulwant Singh from Mohali, which were believed to be connected to the Delhi liquor scam. Kulwant Singh is the owner of a real estate company, Janta Land Promoters Limited, and holds the distinction of being the wealthiest MLA in Punjab. Now, the ED has taken action against AAP MLA Jaswant Singh Gajjan Majra.
#WATCH | Chandigarh: On ED detaining AAP MLA Jaswant Singh Gajjanmajra, AAP leader Malvinder Singh Kang says, "It is definitely an old case before he joined the Aam Aadmi Party. But the way the ED acted with haste during a public meeting, it raises questions of the action taken… pic.twitter.com/BFXrN43fdi
— ANI (@ANI) November 6, 2023
