The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has claimed that Bharat Bhushan Ashu, a former Punjab minister and Congress leader, laundered proceeds from an alleged tender scam through various shell companies and acquired properties under his and his family members' names. Ashu, 53, was arrested on Thursday at the ED's Jalandhar office following a day-long interrogation. On Friday, he was presented before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Jalandhar, which granted the ED custody for five days.
According to the ED's statement, the investigation revealed that Ashu used shell entities—companies set up with the Know Your Customer (KYC) documents of unsuspecting individuals—to launder money. This money was then used to buy properties in his name and that of his family members, news agency PTI reported.
Ashu, who has served as the Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Civil Supplies, and is currently the working president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, represented Ludhiana (West) in the state assembly. He was previously arrested by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau in August 2022 in connection with the case.
The ongoing investigation by the ED follows a tender scam involving the allocation of contracts for foodgrain transportation using fake vehicle registration numbers during the Congress regime. The ED's raid in August 2023 targeted Ashu, Raman Balasubramanium, a former chairman of the Ludhiana Improvement Trust, and others.
Bharat Bhushan Ashu Arrest: Punjab Congress Chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring Alleges 'Vendetta Politics'
Reacting to Ashu's arrest, Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, the Punjab chief of the Congress party, condemned the action as "vendetta politics" and reiterated the party's commitment to fighting for truth and justice. Warring posted on X, "We strongly condemn the arrest of Ashu by the ED. We stand by him. This vendetta politics cannot stop us from fighting for truth and justice."
Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira also criticised the arrest, suggesting it represents "double jeopardy" as Ashu had already faced legal action from the Punjab Vigilance Bureau. Khaira posted on X, "Although investigative agencies can probe and arrest anyone, the case of the ED arresting Bharat Bhushan Ashu, an ex-minister @INCPunjab, is a double jeopardy according to law! He was earlier arrested by the vigilance bureau and spent seven months in jail. The ED arrest is also for the same crime, if committed! It means he's being punished twice for the same offence!"
Khaira further accused the ED of acting on political motives and questioned the agency's conviction rate, suggesting that such actions aim to damage the reputation of individuals rather than deliver justice.