Continuing its probe into the corruption case registered against Jalandhar Central MLA Raman Arora, the Vigilance Bureau (VB) today apprehended Mahesh Makhija, a close associate of Arora. Just a day earlier, the bureau had taken Municipal Corporation Inspector Harpreet Kaur into custody in connection with the same case.

Makhija, who works as an arhtiya (commission agent) in Jalandhar’s main vegetable market and resides in Charanjitpura, had been named in the FIR two days ago but had been evading arrest since Arora was taken into custody on May 23.

Allegations suggest that Arora used illicit funds to purchase certain properties and had them registered under Makhija’s name. It has also been claimed that Arora, anticipating his arrest following the withdrawal of his security on May 14, shifted several bags from his residence. Reportedly, one of these bags—containing documents related to benami (proxy-owned) properties—was moved to Makhija’s residence. The VB has been examining CCTV footage from outside the residences of Arora, Makhija, and others involved.

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Meanwhile, on Thursday, MC Building Inspector Harpreet Kaur was also detained by the VB. She was presented before a local court today, after which the bureau secured a two-day remand. Complaints had been received alleging that she accepted large sums of money as part of a corruption ring allegedly operated in the city by MLA Raman Arora and Assistant Town Planner Sukhdev Vashisht.

After her formal arrest, Kaur underwent a medical examination at the Civil Hospital late Thursday evening. Arora is also currently in VB custody until Monday. His son, Rajan Arora, and his daughter’s father-in-law, Raju Madaan, have also been named in the case but have been untraceable since Arora’s arrest on May 23.

The key accusation against all six individuals is that they manipulated fake MC notices to extort money from owners of under-construction buildings, coercing them to pay bribes to overlook building regulation violations. The funds collected were allegedly invested in real estate purchases.