The Enforcement Directorate’s action against premises linked to Punjab cabinet minister Sanjeev Arora has triggered a fresh political storm in the state, with a company associated with the case strongly denying allegations of fake mobile phone exports and financial irregularities.
In an official statement issued on May 9, Hampton Sky Realty Limited said all exported mobile phones were genuine products whose IMEI numbers had already been independently verified through customs and global manufacturer databases.
The ED is reportedly investigating alleged bogus mobile phone exports worth around Rs 157 crore, possible violations of foreign exchange regulations, and transactions linked to Hampton Sky Realty Limited, bank accounts and other business dealings.
However, the company claimed the exports were fully legitimate and part of India’s rapidly growing mobile export sector under the Centre’s “Make in India” and Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes.
In its press statement, the company said it entered the mobile phone export business in May 2023 and exported more than 44,000 branded devices and accessories, including Apple iPhones, AirPods, Samsung and OnePlus handsets.
The company stated that every handset exported underwent “multiple statutory verifications”, including customs examination, IMEI scanning through the Customs ICEGATE system and cross-verification by manufacturers such as Apple and Samsung against global activation databases. It further claimed that many of the exported devices were activated outside India, which, according to the firm, proves the exports were genuine.
“Every mobile phone manufactured anywhere in the world carries a unique 15-digit IMEI number,” the company said, adding that the IMEIs were scanned by customs authorities and independently verified by original equipment manufacturers. It asserted that such verification could not be manipulated by any Indian entity.
Rejecting allegations of fake exports and money laundering, the company said all payments to suppliers were made through banking channels with GST duly paid, while export proceeds were also received entirely through authorised banking routes. It claimed there were no cash dealings or concealed offshore transactions.
The company also addressed GST-related concerns raised in the investigation. It said certain allegations involved a few supplier firms and described itself as a “victim” in that matter. According to the statement, the company had itself lodged an FIR at Focal Point police station in Ludhiana in May 2025 against suppliers including SK Enterprises, Global Traders and GMG Tradelink Pvt Ltd after suspecting supplier-side fraud.
It further said the disputed GST amount had already been deposited, and the matter was currently under appeal before the GST Appellate Authority.
The ED action has meanwhile fuelled political debate in Punjab, with supporters of the Aam Aadmi Party questioning why central agencies are intensifying action against opposition leaders close to elections. Political circles in the state are increasingly viewing the raids not merely as a legal process, but as part of a broader confrontation between the BJP-led Centre and opposition parties.
The company, however, said it was fully cooperating with investigators and had complete faith in the judiciary and constitutional process.
– Ends
Published By:
Aprameya Rao
Published On:
May 9, 2026 23:40 IST
