Rajbir Singh Ghuman, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, appeared before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) at its Sector 30 office in Chandigarh at 3 pm on Friday in connection with an alleged corruption and influence-peddling case.
Ghuman appeared before the agency following directions issued by the Supreme Court. Advocate GPS Ghuman, who accompanied him, confirmed that he had joined the investigation.
The CBI had issued three notices asking Ghuman to appear before the investigating agency. Notices were also pasted on the gate of his house in his native village of Gharachon in Sangrur district.
Advocate GPS Ghuman said notices were also being sent to the accused through WhatsApp. He questioned the legal validity of this method but said the accused had decided to cooperate with the investigation.
He also stated that more than five people, including AAP leader Chuspinder Chahal from Mansa, had appeared before the CBI on Thursday and answered questions from investigators.
The CBI registered the case following an October 5 order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court directing an investigation into allegations of corruption and influence-peddling involving government functionaries.
The FIR names six accused: Rajbir Singh Ghuman, Nitin Gohal, Jitin Gohal alias Raja, Romi Raja Mahajan, Bir Devinder and Rajdeep Singh Nagra, a rice sheller owner. It also mentions unidentified public servants and private individuals.
The case has been registered under provisions of the Indian Penal Code, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Prevention of Corruption Act.
According to the FIR, the allegations relate to the purported exchange of money for government postings, including those of IAS and IPS officers. Other matters mentioned include departmental proceedings, policy decisions, administrative approvals, tender conditions, licensing, change of land use, property disputes and revenue-related matters and the alleged activities are stated to cover the period from 2023 to 2026. These are allegations under investigation and have not been established as facts by a court.
The 251-page FIR was registered on a complaint by an Enforcement Directorate (ED) officer. It refers to material shared by the ED with the Punjab Police chief.
On October 12, the Supreme Court declined to stay the FIR while hearing the Punjab government's challenge to the High Court's order. However, it directed that no coercive action be taken against the accused at that stage and issued notice on the state's plea.
