AAP's Jalandhar Central MLA Raman Arora in custody of vigilance bureau for corruption, party appoints industrialist Nitin Kohli as in-charge of his seat

Time of India

a day ago

Jalandhar: With its Jalandhar Central MLA Raman Arora still in the custody of vigilance bureau in a corruption case, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has inducted Jalandhar-based industrialist Nitin Kohli into the party and appointed him as the legislative constituency's in-charge.
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During the induction, AAP Punjab affairs in-charge Manish Sisodia emphasised that Kohli had been helping the party from the start and he was now "formally joining" the party. "Our own MLA (Raman Arora) broke the trust of people and he did a few things due to which the govt had to take action. When the state govt and vigilance bureau got information about his wrongdoings, they quickly took action," he said. "This shows AAP does not spare even its own if they indulge in corruption.
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AAP state president Aman Arora and state working president Sherry Kalsi were also present. "Kohli has been already showing leadership qualities. Now he will open an office in the constituency and serve people," Sisodia said.
Sisodia claimed that Kohli's joining was a manifestation of trust being expressed by industrialists, businessmen, and traders in AAP and the state govt. "This expression of trust shows the atmosphere in Punjab is good," he said.
Kohli added that anti-corruption agencies in Punjab had a free hand.
On his part, Kohli said after Lovely Professional University chancellor Ashok Mittal and Sanjeev Arora, both Rajya Sabha members, joined AAP, industrialists started having great faith in AAP and now it is increasing. On the occasion, several industrialists and businessmen from Jalandhar were present.
This is the first instance in which AAP has appointed a constituency in-charge after an MLA was arrested on corruption charges.
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Such a drastic step was not taken after arrest of Mansa MLA and former health minister Vijay Singla and Bathinda Rural MLA Amit Ratan Kotfatta, who were also held under corruption charges, and they continue to function in their constituencies.
Arora's VB custody extended by 4 days
AAP MLA from Jalandhar Central seat Raman Arora was produced in a court here on Thursday and remanded in the custody of vigilance bureau for another four days.
He was brought to court on the completion of his previous five-day custody of VB. Arora's counsel opposed the extension in VB custody, and arguments took place for around an hour. The VB informed the court that some other complainants came to them against Arora.
MC building branch official arrested
A woman inspector of Jalandhar municipal corporation's building branch has also been arrested by the vigilance bureau. Earlier, ATP Sukhdev Vashisht's arrest had led to the arrest of AAP MLA Raman Arora. The arrested inspector was brought to civil hospital on Thursday night for a medical examination.