The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday conducted searches at multiple locations linked to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's office, a day after
the Punjab and Haryana High Court ordered a probe into allegations of corruption involving officials and individuals connected to the CMO. CBI teams searched the Punjab CM's camp office at Sector 2 in Chandigarh, House No. 50, as well as locations linked to Mann's Officer on Special Duty (OSD) Rajbir Singh Ghuman. Searches were also reported at Ghuman's residence in Gharachon village in Sangrur and at the home of a close relative in Phase 11, Mohali. The searches are part of a case concerning allegations of corruption in government transfers and postings and other official dealings.
The CBI action came soon after the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday directed the agency to register a criminal case and conduct an investigation into allegations raised by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
The High Court's order followed three letters sent by the ED to Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav. The letters allegedly flagged a network involving Ghuman and private individuals, with allegations of influencing transfers and postings, government policies, tenders and other decisions. The ED material was reportedly generated during an ongoing money-laundering investigation linked to alleged irregularities in land and Change of Land Use matters.
According to reports on the High Court proceedings, the ED had referred to alleged interference in the transfers and postings of government officers and other instances of private individuals allegedly influencing government functioning.
The court said a “fair and transparent investigation” was required and directed the CBI to submit a status report within two months.
The Punjab government has challenged the High Court's order in the Supreme Court. The state has argued against the transfer of the matter to the CBI, with the Supreme Court hearing now adding another legal layer to the case.
Mann has rejected the allegations and accused the BJP-led Centre of using central agencies to target his government.
Reacting to Tuesday's searches, he said the BJP had begun preparations for the Punjab elections and alleged that the CBI and Enforcement Directorate would be “misused” to defame him and the Punjab government.
"BJP has started preparations for Punjab elections..CBI raided my camp office..Now ED and CBI will be misused in Punjab..so that Punjab government and I can be defamed..BJP is in panic after seeing the love it is getting from the people," he wrote.
AAP leader Anurag Dhanda also alleged that the CBI action reflected the Centre's political frustration in Punjab.
The Opposition, meanwhile, has seized on the searches. Congress leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira questioned why the Mann government was resisting the CBI probe and challenged the chief minister and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal to face the investigation.
The CBI has not yet issued an official statement on the searches or disclosed details of what was recovered during the operation.
