The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday conducted extensive searches across Punjab and Gurugram at premises linked to noted educationist and head of Lovely Group, Ashok Mittal.

The raids, carried out under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), has drawn significant attention to financial governance within large private education ecosystems.

Mittal, 61, who also serves as chancellor of Lovely Professional University, was recently appointed deputy leader of the Aam Aadmi Party in the Rajya Sabha. Officials said the searches covered 8–9 locations, including Jalandhar and Phagwara, spanning business premises, residential properties, and a farmhouse linked to Mittal and his family. Premises associated with his son and other family members, including his brothers Ramesh Mittal and Naresh Mittal, were also part of the operation.

The investigation has brought multiple entities within the Lovely Group under scrutiny, including Lovely Professional University, Lovely Autos, Lovely Sweets, and the Lovely Distance Education Centre. Teams were also present at the LPU campus, where officials are examining documents and financial records, particularly focusing on suspected irregularities in foreign transactions and fund flows tied to the group’s operations.

The development is particularly significant for the higher education sector, as it places one of India’s largest private universities under regulatory lens. With institutions like LPU playing a major role in expanding access to higher education, including distance and online learning, the probe raises broader questions around compliance, transparency, and financial practices in university-linked business structures and global operations.

The raids have also triggered strong political reactions. Arvind Kejriwal alleged that central agencies were being used to target opposition leaders ahead of elections, while Sanjay Singh termed the action part of a recurring pattern. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann echoed similar concerns, calling the raids “typical” of election-time pressure tactics, with the Assembly polls due early next year.

AAP’s Punjab president Aman Arora also linked the development to recent internal party changes, including Mittal replacing Raghav Chadha as deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha.

While the political debate continues, the case underscores a growing regulatory focus on the intersection of education, business diversification, and international finance. As Indian universities expand globally and adopt technology-driven and cross-border education models, the need for robust financial oversight and institutional accountability is becoming increasingly critical to sustaining trust and credibility in the sector.

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