Punjab And Haryana High Court Orders CBI Probe Into Graft Allegations Against CM Bhagwant Mann's OSD
A major legal and political crisis has hit the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab after the Punjab and Haryana High Court ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation to launch a formal criminal investigation into corruption allegations linked to the Chief Minister's Office. The court took direct cognizance of letters written by the Enforcement Directorate detailing suspected bribery, administrative interference, and illicit money trails involving Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's Officer on Special Duty, Rajbir Singh Ghuman. Overruling the state administration, the court handed the entire inquiry over to the central investigative agency after finding that local police had failed to take appropriate statutory action.
The judicial directive was issued by a division bench comprising Chief Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Rohit Kapoor during the hearing of a public interest litigation petition filed by advocate Nikhil Saraf. The petitioner had approached the court challenging the inaction of the Punjab Police, pointing out that top law enforcement authorities had sat on critical evidence shared by the central anti-money laundering agency for months. The petition argued that because the allegations involved powerful figures operating directly inside the Chief Minister's Office, only an independent central agency could conduct an impartial and credible probe without local administrative interference.
The root of the controversy stems from communications sent by the Enforcement Directorate to the Director General of Punjab Police. During separate financial inquiries, federal investigators uncovered evidence pointing toward large-scale bribery in the transfers and postings of administrative and police officers, clearances for change of land use, approvals for arms licenses, and the awarding of state government tenders. According to the federal agency, a private intermediary named Nitin Gohal allegedly functioned as a key broker between individuals seeking government favors and OSD Rajbir Singh Ghuman, facilitating illicit transactions and gaining unlawful access to confidential government files.
The High Court delivered a sharp rebuke to the Punjab Police over its handling of the allegations. The bench observed that the material shared by the Enforcement Directorate prima facie indicated the commissioning of cognizable offenses within high public office, which carried the clear potential of endangering public interest. The judges noted with concern that despite receiving specific communications detailing high-level wrongdoing, the state police merely carried out a prolonged preliminary inquiry rather than registering a First Information Report as mandated by criminal procedure. The bench remarked that such reluctance on the part of state police justified transferring the entire matter to an independent agency.
The court also took note of troubling claims of administrative retaliation against the whistleblower. During the proceedings, it was highlighted that shortly after the petitioner approached the judicial forum demanding action on the graft letters, local administrative authorities suddenly revived long-dormant property demolition proceedings against him. The judges observed that the sudden move to target the petitioner after almost two years of administrative silence appeared unusual, reinforcing the necessity of insulating the investigation from state machinery influence.
Directing the state government and the police department to immediately transfer all case files, communications, and digital materials to the CBI, the High Court instructed the central agency to register a regular case and complete its investigation expeditiously, directing it to submit a comprehensive status report within two months. The order ensures that federal investigators will thoroughly examine the money trail, mobile phone data, and official clearances issued during the period under scrutiny.
The judicial order provoked an immediate political storm in the state. Opposition parties launched fierce attacks on the ruling administration, accusing the Chief Minister's Office of institutionalizing corruption while claiming to run an anti-graft government. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann previously dismissed the allegations as completely baseless and politically motivated, accusing the central government of weaponizing federal investigative bodies like the ED and CBI to harass opposition-ruled states. With the CBI stepping in to take charge of the investigation, the legal proceedings threaten to escalate into a prolonged political confrontation ahead of upcoming electoral battles.