The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday morning conducted searches at two residences of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA from Moga, Dr Amandeep Kaur Arora, who also heads the party’s Punjab women’s wing.
 

The searches began at around 6 am, just months ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections. The AAP has already announced Dr Arora as its candidate again from the Moga Assembly constituency in its first list of candidates.
 

According to available information, ED teams from its Delhi and Chandigarh units reached both residential locations early in the morning. Searches were also reportedly being conducted at locations in the adjoining Bagha Purana constituency and at Chandmajra village near Patiala, the MLA's parental village.
 

Dr Arora was present at her residence during the operation, and investigating officials were questioning her. As news of the searches spread, a large number of AAP workers and supporters gathered outside the residences and raised slogans against the central investigating agency and the BJP.
 

Following the gathering of party supporters, security personnel cordoned off the surrounding areas. Searches at both residences were continuing at the time of filing this report.
 

The ED has not yet disclosed the case or allegations in connection with which the searches were being conducted. The MLA's family has also not issued any formal statement regarding the operation.
 

AAP Leaders Allege Political Pressure
 

Meanwhile, people close to the MLA alleged that the ED action was intended to put pressure on Dr Arora to join either the BJP or the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), similar to the alleged pressure tactics used in the case of former Jalalabad MLA Raminder Singh Awla.
 

Jagdev Singh, a close associate of the MLA, claimed that the BJP and the SAD lacked a strong candidate to contest from the Moga constituency, either jointly or separately.
 

Local AAP leaders also described the searches as politically motivated, alleging that the action was linked to the upcoming Assembly elections.
 

Earlier Allegations Against the MLA
 

Dr Amandeep Kaur Arora had previously been in the spotlight after a former associate levelled allegations of financial irregularities against her. However, the MLA had rejected the allegations, describing them as a conspiracy by political opponents.
 

The ED has not indicated whether the latest searches are connected to those earlier allegations or relate to a separate case.
 

Further details about the investigation are awaited.