Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s Officer on Special Duty (OSD) Rajbir Singh Ghuman has been summoned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with a probe into alleged corruption involving the Chief Minister’s Office and his associates.
Ghuman and other persons named in the case have been asked to appear before the CBI at its Sector 30 office in Chandigarh at 2.30 pm on Wednesday.
The summons come a day after the CBI registered an FIR in the case and conducted coordinated searches at eight locations across Chandigarh and Punjab and the searches included the Punjab Chief Minister’s Camp Office in Sector 2, Chandigarh, Ghuman’s residence in Gharachon village in Sangrur and premises linked to his relatives and associates in Mohali, Jalandhar and other locations.
The CBI said the FIR was registered following directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and after receiving a report from the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
According to the CBI, the investigation concerns allegations of corruption against Ghuman and his associates in matters related to government administration and decision-making.
The allegations include influencing and manipulating the postings and transfers of government officers, including IAS and IPS officers. The probe also covers alleged interference in departmental proceedings and policy formulation.
The CBI has further referred to allegations concerning administrative approvals, government tenders, licences, land-use conversion matters, property disputes and revenue and land-related issues.
The agency has also alleged that public servants involved in the matter may have accessed and provided drafts of government orders and policies to private persons before those documents were officially issued.
The alleged acts are being investigated for possible financial benefits or other forms of impropriety.
The CBI has named six accused in the FIR: Rajbir Singh Ghuman, Nitin Gohal, Jitin Gohal alias Raja, Romi Raja Mahajan, Bir Devinder and R.S. Nagra. The FIR also refers to unidentified public servants and private persons.
The allegations are currently under investigation. Registration of an FIR does not establish guilt.
On Tuesday, CBI teams carried out searches at eight locations as part of the investigation.
The agency said it collected documents, laptops, mobile phones and other material during the searches. Digital devices seized during the operation have been sent for forensic examination to extract data that may be relevant to the allegations.
The searches came shortly after the Punjab and Haryana High Court directed the CBI to register a case and investigate allegations concerning Ghuman and others.
The High Court order followed a petition seeking an independent probe into allegations earlier raised by the ED.
The ED had earlier written three letters to Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav, alleging corruption-related activities involving Ghuman and associates including Nitin Gohal and Bir Devinder.
The ED alleged that the persons named in its communications were interfering in government transfers, postings and tenders and had sought registration of an FIR.
After a case was not registered by the Punjab Police on the basis of the ED communications, advocate Nikhil Saraf approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court through a public interest litigation.
The petition sought a CBI investigation, arguing that the allegations involved individuals linked to the Chief Minister’s Office and required an investigation independent of the Punjab Police and Punjab Vigilance Bureau.
The petitioner also sought an inquiry into the alleged money trail and action against anyone found responsible for wrongdoing.
The High Court subsequently directed the CBI to register a case and submit a status report within two months.
The Punjab government has challenged the High Court’s direction before the Supreme Court.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has rejected the allegations and accused the BJP-led Central government of using central investigative agencies for political purposes.
After Tuesday’s CBI searches, Mann alleged that the action was politically motivated and claimed that the BJP had started preparations for the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections.
In a post on X, the Chief Minister alleged that agencies such as the CBI and ED could be used to target the Punjab government and its functionaries. He also claimed that the action was intended to damage the image of his government and its leadership.
AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal also described the CBI action as politically motivated.
The CBI, however, has said that its FIR and investigation were initiated pursuant to the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s directions and after receipt of the ED report.
With Ghuman now summoned to appear before the CBI, the agency is expected to question him and examine material collected during Tuesday’s searches as part of its ongoing investigation. No final findings have been reached by the investigating agency or the court so far.
