AAP's bid to ‘settle score’ in Punjab? Inside big raid after Rajinder Gupta’s BJP switch
A Punjab Pollution Control Board raid on a Trident Group textile unit owned by Rajinder Gupta sparked political controversy shortly after his defection from AAP to BJP. The BJP accused the AAP-led state government of political vendetta, while Congress criticized AAP for allegedly misusing regulatory agencies. AAP dismissed the claims, stating the inspection was a routine environmental compliance check conducted in response to complaints.
- ▪The Punjab Pollution Control Board conducted a multi-hour inspection at a Trident Group textile unit in Dhaula on May 1, 2026.
- ▪The raid occurred less than a week after Rajinder Gupta, owner of the unit, defected from AAP to BJP along with six other Rajya Sabha MPs.
- ▪BJP leaders accused the AAP government of political vendetta, while Congress highlighted perceived hypocrisy in AAP's stance on agency misuse.
- ▪PPCB officials collected effluent and groundwater samples to assess environmental compliance, stating the inspection was part of standard procedure.
- ▪Trident has previously faced allegations of polluting farmland through improper wastewater discharge, leading to farmer protests in 2022.
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AAP's bid to ‘settle score’ in Punjab? Inside big raid after Rajinder Gupta’s BJP switchAAP said that the allegations of "political vendetta" were baseless and called the Trident raid a routine exercise.Updated on: May 01, 2026 2:07 PM ISTEdited by Priyanshu PriyaShare viaCopy link The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is facing sharp accusations of political vendetta after a Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) team stormed a unit of Trident Group – owned by Rajya Sabha defector Rajinder Gupta – barely a week after his switch to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).Raid at BJP Rajya Sabha MP Rajinder Gupta's Trident unit sparks political storm in Punjab (HT photo and PTI)As reported by HT earlier, a PPCB team of at least 18 officials arrived in six vehicles around 2 pm at the Trident Group’s textile…
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