MLA Arora’s journey from bhajan singer to lock-up

Till about four years ago, Raman Arora was known in Jalandhar more as a bhajan singer. He was known to perform ‘mata ki chowkis’ at temples and chant bhajans at jagrans held across the city. He was also known for organising religious and meditation programmes in the city.

His inclination for politics started when former Jalandhar Central Congress MLA Rajinder Beri got him appointed as Chairman of the Arora/Khatri Mahasabha of Punjab. Little did Beri know at that time that the man could jump ship and supersede him. Within few months, Arora joined AAP and was declared as its candidate from the same seat contested by Beri in the 2022 Assembly polls. He defeated Beri by just 247 votes.

Arora’s source of income ahead of elections was from his garment business in the city. Till about a year ago, Arora was reportedly very close to former MLA Sheetal Angural, who quit the party in March 2024. Both of them as AAP MLAs had accused the BJP of poaching leaders, which AAP had then termed as ‘Operation Lotus’.

As Arora was being arrested from his residence today, a huge hoarding was seen atop his house with pictures of AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann and AAP state president Aman Arora. The now arrested MLA was known to play a good host to AAP leaders, including Aman Arora and family members of Bhagwant Mann. Mann’s sister Manpreet Kaur and wife Dr Gurpreet Kaur Mann were known to be visiting his place frequently till a few months ago.

However, as Arora was getting arrested today, it were the AAP leaders including Mann who kept on sharing video clips of VB action against him. Mann said it repeatedly even through a video message, “Even if it was someone from our own who was found indulging in corruption, we have chosen not to spare him and show zero tolerance." As per the VB sources, it was Arora who would pester the arrested Assistant Town Planner of the Municipal Corporation Sukhdev Vashisht to take Rs 30,000 as bribe money for withdrawal of notices regarding violation of building norms. Vashisht had been arrested a week ago for demanding the same amount from a VB complainant. It is being said that Vashisht was working at the behest of Arora. They had got fake MC notices printed and were getting these sent to those indulging in construction of houses or commercial properties and violating the norms.

Punjab