Devotional Singer-Turned-MLA Arrested: AAP’s Raman Arora Held in Corruption Case Amid Rising Allegations
Jalandhar, 24th May 2025: Jalandhar Central MLA Raman Arora, once celebrated for his community work and devotional singing, has been arrested by Punjab’s Vigilance Bureau in a corruption case, marking a dramatic downfall for the first-time AAP legislator.
Arora, 54, a cloth merchant from Peer Bodla Bazaar, entered politics without prior experience, gaining visibility during the Covid-19 pandemic through his social initiatives. His philanthropic work earned him a position as vice-president of the Khatri Arora Punjab Board under the previous Congress government. Known for performing devotional events such as “Mata ka Jagrans” and kirtans, he reportedly caught AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal’s eye during a temple visit to Jalandhar in late 2021. He was subsequently fielded from Jalandhar Central and narrowly defeated Congress MLA Rajinder Beri in the 2022 Assembly elections by just 247 votes.
As a legislator, Arora positioned himself as a grassroots leader, addressing civic grievances, particularly sewage issues. However, his tenure grew controversial as accusations emerged that municipal officials demanded money to carry out work allegedly under his direction.
The situation escalated on May 15 when an assistant town planner was caught accepting a ₹30,000 bribe. During the probe, Arora’s name surfaced, prompting a raid and his eventual arrest on May 24.
Sources within AAP confirmed that complaints about Arora had reached Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. The government withdrew his extensive security cover a week before the arrest, and his increasing proximity to BJP leaders reportedly raised internal alarms. Party insiders also noted the heightened involvement of senior AAP leader Deepak Bali in Jalandhar Central — viewed as a signal of the leadership distancing itself from Arora.
This isn’t Arora’s first brush with controversy. In 2022, he claimed he had received a ₹25 crore offer from the BJP to defect. Later that year, he was filmed in a heated altercation with Jalandhar DCP Naresh Dogra, during which his supporters allegedly assaulted the officer. The fallout extended to a local hospital where, according to reports, Arora’s supporters coerced a woman doctor to falsify medical records and vandalised the premises when she refused. Despite the uproar, no FIR was filed, and the matter was reportedly settled under pressure.
Following Arora’s arrest, CM Mann issued a stern message via social media: “This is not a fight against one person, but against a corrupt system. Our government stands for zero tolerance towards corruption — even if it involves someone from our party.” He urged business owners and citizens to report extortion attempts and assured strict action, stating, “No one will be spared.”
The arrest is seen as part of the AAP government’s effort to distance itself from tainted figures and reinforce its anti-corruption stance, even at the cost of political embarrassment.
