The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a corruption case involving Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s Officer on Special Duty (OSD) Rajbir Singh Ghuman and conducted searches at multiple locations, including Mann’s camp office in Chandigarh.
The action followed a Punjab and Haryana High Court order directing the CBI to investigate allegations flagged by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The allegations concern possible interference in government postings and transfers, tenders, licences, policy decisions, land-use matters and other official processes.
The CBI searched locations across Punjab and Chandigarh and reportedly seized documents and electronic devices during the operation.
Mann accused the BJP-led Centre of using central agencies to target his government ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.
He alleged that the CBI action was part of the BJP’s attempt to gain political ground in Punjab and claimed that the ED and CBI could be used against the AAP government.
AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal echoed the allegation, accusing the BJP of relying on central agencies for its electoral strategy. Punjab AAP chief Aman Arora also linked the searches to the upcoming Assembly polls.
The BJP denied that the investigation was politically motivated and pointed to the High Court order behind the CBI probe.
Senior BJP leader Tarun Chugh said the agency was acting on judicial directions and urged the AAP government to allow the investigation to proceed. Punjab BJP chief Kewal Singh Dhillon similarly said the state government should cooperate with the probe.
The allegations under investigation have not been established as fact.
Punjab Congress leaders and Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal also criticised the Mann government following the searches.
The Punjab government has challenged the High Court’s decision before the Supreme Court, seeking to stop the CBI investigation.
The case has intensified the political contest in Punjab ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, with the AAP alleging political targeting and the BJP and Opposition parties backing the judicially ordered probe.
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