CBI files corruption case against Punjab CM’s aide after High Court order

A day after the Punjab and Haryana High Court directed the CBI to probe corruption allegations linked to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s office, the agency registered a case on Tuesday against an officer on special duty (OSD) in the CM’s office and other public servants.

The CBI has booked six people, including two public servants, middlemen, and associates, following the registration of the FIR. “The FIR has been registered to investigate allegations of corruption against the OSD and his associates for influencing and manipulating postings of officers including IAS and IPS officers, departmental proceedings, matters pertaining to policy formulation, administrative approvals, tender conditions, licensing matters, land use conversion issues, property disputes, and revenue and land related issues in lieu of pecuniary benefits,” an official CBI statement said.

According to the statement, the accused public servants allegedly provided drafts of orders and policy papers to private individuals prior to their issuance by the Government. Coordinated searches were conducted at eight locations across Chandigarh, Mohali, Gurdaspur, Ludhiana, Patiala, Sangrur, and Jalandhar at premises linked to the accused persons during which laptops, mobile phones, and documents were seized.

Agencies being misused

Chief Minister Mann, meanwhile, alleged that the raids were part of BJP preparations for the Punjab elections.

In a post on ‘X’, Mr. Mann said that the CBI had raided his camp office and alleged that the agency and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) would be misused in Punjab in the run-up to the 2027 assembly polls.

“The investigative agencies will be misused… to defame the State Government and me… The BJP is rattled by the love we are receiving from the people,” the Chief Minister said.

Former BJP Punjab president Sunil Jakhar reacted saying, “The CBI has not been sent by the Government of India, it has been ordered by the Hon’ble High Court to investigate the loot of Punjab on your watch.”

Court order

On October 5, the High Court, while pronouncing its order, stated that allegations raised by the ED against public servants and private individuals, linked to the AAP government, include corruption in transfers and postings, policy manipulation, cash for tenders and other serious irregularities.

The Bench noted that after a cumulative assessment of the material placed on record in the petition, the court is of the view that a fair and transparent investigation is required.

Aiming a jab at the AAP with reference to the raid at CM’s “camp office”, the Leader of the Opposition in Punjab Assembly Partap Singh Bajwa said, “The irony is hard to miss: the place that symbolised Delhi’s remote control over Punjab is now under the CBI scanner.”