AAP-SAD Clash Escalates Over Alleged ED Letter to Punjab DGP

A fresh political confrontation has erupted in Punjab between the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) over an alleged Enforcement Directorate (ED) communication seeking police action against a person purportedly linked to AAP leaders.

SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia claimed that the communication was sent to Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav in connection with a Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) investigation involving a Chandigarh-based housing society and its associates.

According to Majithia, the ED conducted searches at multiple locations between May 7 and May 10, during which approximately ₹21 lakh in cash was allegedly recovered. He claimed the agency subsequently approached the Punjab DGP over allegations involving the manipulation of government transfers and postings, arms licence approvals and land-related disputes. Majithia further alleged that information recovered from electronic devices, including WhatsApp conversations, indicated attempts to influence the posting and transfer of government officials. The allegations, however, have not been independently established.

The AAP strongly rejected the SAD's claims, accusing the opposition party of attempting to turn an ED communication into a political weapon against the state government. Punjab Finance Minister and senior AAP leader Harpal Singh Cheema criticised the SAD, alleging that it was increasingly echoing the positions of the BJP and central investigative agencies. He questioned the political use of a communication addressed by the ED to the state police chief.

Cheema also accused the BJP-led Centre of using agencies such as the ED, CBI and Income Tax Department to pressure opposition leaders and state governments. He alleged that such actions intensify around elections and when opposition-ruled governments resist central intervention.

The minister further attacked the SAD over its past association with the BJP, accusing the party of abandoning its earlier political position for electoral survival. The exchange has added another layer to Punjab's ongoing political contest, with the use of central investigative agencies, alleged corruption and the relationship between the BJP, SAD and AAP emerging as key points of confrontation.