# ED Raids AAP MP’s LPU Amid Political Row

By Senior Political Correspondent, The National Desk, April 15, 2026

In a major escalation of political tensions in Punjab, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) launched extensive raids on Wednesday morning at the Phagwara campus of Lovely Professional University (LPU). The sweeping searches target the sprawling business empire of Ashok Kumar Mittal, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Member of Parliament who recently assumed the role of the party’s Rajya Sabha deputy leader. Occurring just weeks after Mittal replaced senior AAP leader Raghav Chadha in the upper house, the April 15, 2026 raids have triggered immediate accusations of political vendetta from the ruling state government against central investigative agencies. [Source: Hindustan Times | Additional: Public Records].

## Sweeping Searches Across Lovely Group Campuses

The Enforcement Directorate’s operation commenced at approximately 6:00 AM IST, with heavily escorted convoys arriving at multiple locations associated with the Lovely Group. Accompanied by personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to maintain secure perimeters, ED officials initiated synchronized searches across at least a dozen premises in Punjab.

The primary focus of the operation is the massive Lovely Professional University campus situated on the Jalandhar-Delhi GT Road in Phagwara. Simultaneously, teams were deployed to the private residences of Ashok Kumar Mittal and his close family members in Jalandhar, as well as corporate offices managing the group’s diverse portfolio, which spans education, real estate, and retail businesses.

According to preliminary reports from officials on the ground, the investigating teams have secured the university’s central administrative block, restricting the movement of top-tier management and financial officers. **Digital devices, accounting ledgers, and hard drives containing cross-border transaction histories have reportedly been seized for forensic imaging.** While regular academic activities for students have not been entirely halted, the heavy paramilitary presence has cast a palpable shadow over India’s largest single-campus private university. [Source: Hindustan Times | Additional: Regional News Syndicates].

## The Political Timing: Mittal’s Elevation and Chadha’s Exit

The timing of the raids is drawing intense scrutiny from political analysts and opposition leaders alike. The central agency’s action comes on the heels of a significant internal reshuffle within the Aam Aadmi Party’s parliamentary committee. Just recently, Ashok Kumar Mittal was elevated to the crucial position of AAP’s deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha, replacing the high-profile leader Raghav Chadha.

Chadha, who had been a highly visible and vocal presence for the AAP in the upper house, stepped down from the leadership role amid strategic party realignments and extended periods of overseas travel. Mittal’s appointment was widely viewed as a strategic move by AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal to consolidate the party’s influence among Punjab’s powerful business and educational elite, while ensuring strong representation in the Parliament.

“The optics of raiding a newly appointed parliamentary deputy leader are impossible to ignore,” notes Dr. Rajeev Sharma, a professor of political science at Panjab University. “Mittal is not just an educator; he represents a significant financial and social constituency in the Doaba region. Disrupting his network sends a forceful message to the AAP leadership in both Delhi and Chandigarh.” [Source: Original RSS | Additional: Expert Political Analysis].

## What Triggered the Enforcement Directorate Action?

While the ED has not yet released a formal press statement outlining the exact parameters of the First Information Report (FIR) or the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) guiding the raids, sources within the Ministry of Finance suggest the probe is anchored in suspected financial irregularities.

The investigation is believed to be examining potential violations under two primary legal frameworks:
* **The Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA):** Investigating the alleged routing of unaccounted cash through various subsidiary trusts and shell companies linked to the broader Lovely Group.
* **The Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA):** Scrutinizing large-scale foreign remittances. Given that LPU hosts thousands of international students and engages in numerous global academic partnerships, the inflow and outflow of foreign currency are under strict evaluation.

Investigators are reportedly looking into a specific series of land acquisitions made by the educational trust over the last five years, attempting to trace the origin of the capital used for expanding the 600-acre campus. Furthermore, anonymous complaints previously filed with the Income Tax Department regarding alleged tax evasion in the group’s retail and automobile ventures are believed to have been shared with the ED, forming a composite dossier against Mittal.

## A Closer Look at Lovely Professional University

To understand the magnitude of this raid, one must look at the meteoric rise of the Lovely Group. Founded by the late Baldev Raj Mittal as a modest sweet shop named ‘Lovely Sweets’ in Jalandhar Cantonment in 1961, the business rapidly diversified under the stewardship of his sons, including Ashok Kumar Mittal.

The family expanded into automobile dealerships (Lovely Autos) before venturing into the education sector. In 2005, LPU was established under the Punjab State Private University Act. Today, the university boasts an enrollment of over 35,000 students from across India and more than 50 countries. It serves as a major economic engine for the Jalandhar-Phagwara belt, generating thousands of direct and indirect jobs.

Ashok Kumar Mittal’s transition from a regional business magnate to a prominent national politician culminated in his nomination to the Rajya Sabha by the AAP in 2022. His deep pockets, extensive organizational skills, and clean public image made him a valuable asset to the party. Consequently, an attack on his enterprise is viewed not just as a blow to a politician, but as a destabilizing action against a major state institution. [Source: Hindustan Times | Additional: Higher Education Industry Data].

## Aam Aadmi Party’s Fierce Backlash

The AAP leadership has mounted a swift and aggressive defense of their MP, framing the ED searches as a textbook example of political weaponization by the central government. Throughout the morning of April 15, AAP spokespersons and state cabinet ministers held emergency press briefings, denouncing the raids as an intimidation tactic.

“This is nothing but a blatant witch-hunt against anyone who dares to speak the truth in the Parliament,” declared a senior AAP spokesperson in New Delhi. “First they targeted our top leadership, fabricating liquor scams and arresting our founding members. Now, because Ashok Kumar Mittal ji has taken up the mantle as the deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha and has been vocal against anti-people policies, the ED has been unleashed on an educational institution that makes Punjab proud.”

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is also expected to address the issue, as the raids touch upon the state’s autonomy and its investor climate. AAP leaders argue that the constant deployment of central investigative agencies against opposition leaders undermines democratic principles and creates an atmosphere of fear among entrepreneurs who might otherwise support non-aligned political entities.

## The Broader Trend of Agency Raids on Opposition

The raids on LPU cannot be viewed in isolation. They represent the latest chapter in a prolonged and bitter conflict between the Aam Aadmi Party and central investigative authorities. Over the past few years, the AAP has seen several of its most prominent leaders face severe legal challenges, primarily spearheaded by the ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Meenakshi Iyer, a senior advocate specializing in PMLA cases, provides a legal perspective on the ongoing trend: “The stringent bail conditions under Section 45 of the PMLA make it highly effective as a tool for prolonged detention. When an agency registers an ECIR, the burden of proof effectively shifts to the accused to prove their innocence to secure bail. For political figures and business tycoons alike, the process itself becomes the punishment, severely handicapping their operational and political capabilities.” [Source: Additional Legal Expertise & Public Records].

## Conclusion: Key Takeaways and Future Outlook

As the Enforcement Directorate continues its searches through the administrative corridors of Lovely Professional University, the immediate fallout is twofold. Firstly, there is the localized disruption to a major educational hub. While authorities have attempted to insulate the student body from the raids, the psychological and reputational impact on LPU is significant. Assurances will need to be made to students, parents, and international partners regarding the university’s stability.

Secondly, the political ramifications in Punjab are set to intensify. With state assembly elections looming on the horizon for 2027, the AAP is likely to use these raids to reinforce their narrative of regional victimization by a hostile central administration. Mittal’s elevation to Raghav Chadha’s former post was meant to strengthen the party’s legislative maneuvering; instead, it has seemingly painted a target on his back.

In the coming weeks, the nation will watch closely to see if the ED translates these raids into formal arrests or attachments of property under the PMLA. Until the agency releases a comprehensive breakdown of its findings, the political theater surrounding the “weaponization of agencies” will continue to dominate headlines, further polarizing India’s democratic discourse.

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