A fresh development was reported in Punjab on Tuesday after a raid was conducted at Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s camp office.
Sources claim that raids are being conducted at multiple locations.
The development comes on the same day that the Punjab government has approached the Supreme Court against the Punjab and Haryana High Court's order directing the CBI to investigate allegations of corruption involving transfers, postings, government policies and tenders in the state.
Mann himself made the raid claim in a social media post, linking the CBI action with the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections. He alleged that central investigating agencies could now be used against the Punjab government and him.
In his post, Mann said that the BJP had started preparations for the Punjab elections and alleged that the CBI raid at his camp office was part of an attempt to defame the Punjab government and him. He further alleged that the ED and CBI would be "misused" in Punjab.
Mann also claimed that the BJP was "rattled" by the support being received from people.
The raid claim has come at a particularly significant time because the CBI itself has been ordered by the Punjab and Haryana High Court to investigate a corruption-related matter involving allegations against senior functionaries of the Punjab government.
According to the information available so far, Mann has said that the CBI conducted a raid at his camp office.
Further details from the investigating agency are awaited.
The timing, however, has brought the action into direct focus because the Punjab government's legal challenge against the CBI probe is before the Supreme Court.
The Punjab government on Tuesday approached the Supreme Court challenging the Punjab and Haryana High Court's order directing the CBI to register a criminal case and investigate allegations of corruption.
During proceedings before the Supreme Court, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant did not immediately take up the matter for a detailed hearing. The court indicated that it could consider the matter depending on its listing.
Senior advocate Vikas Singh, appearing for the Punjab government, sought an urgent hearing. He argued that the issue was being blown out of proportion during election time and also raised concerns relating to the federal structure.
The Supreme Court is expected to hear the state's challenge shortly.
The matter relates to a Public Interest Litigation filed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
The petition raised allegations of corruption in areas including transfers and postings of government officials, government policies and the awarding of tenders. It also referred to allegations of money being demanded for favourable decisions, permissions and other government-related matters.
The allegations were linked to material that the Enforcement Directorate had allegedly shared with Punjab Police.
The petitioner claimed that despite the information being provided, the state police had not registered an FIR.
After considering the material placed before it, the High Court directed the CBI to register a case and investigate the allegations.
The court also directed the CBI to submit a status report within two months.
Importantly, the allegations have not been proved in court. The CBI investigation is intended to determine whether the material and claims disclose any criminal wrongdoing.
The Punjab government had also questioned whether the CBI could directly investigate the matter in the state.
Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema had pointed out that Punjab's general consent to the CBI was withdrawn by the previous state government in November 2020.
General consent allows the CBI to investigate cases within a state without seeking separate permission for each case. The withdrawal of such consent has become one of the legal issues being raised by the state.
The government has now asked the Supreme Court to examine the High Court's decision to transfer the matter to the central agency.
The CBI raid claim has now added a political dimension to an already significant legal battle.
Mann has directly linked the action to the BJP's preparations for the Punjab elections and alleged that central agencies are being used to target the state government.
