HighLights
  1. CBI files FIR against Punjab CM OSD in corruption case.
  2. High Court ordered a probe based on the ED's corruption allegations.
  3. Bhagwant Mann alleges BJP misusing agencies for political gain.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered an FIR in a corruption case involving an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and other senior officials, following directions from the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The agency also conducted searches at multiple locations, including a premises identified by Mann as his “camp office” in Chandigarh.

The CBI action follows a High Court order directing the central agency to investigate allegations after noting that material shared by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) prima facie indicated the involvement of high public officials in acts of corruption.

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Reacting to the development, Mann alleged that the BJP was misusing central agencies ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections.

“CBI raided my camp office...now ED and CBI will be misused in Punjab, so that Punjab govt and me can be defamed. The BJP is nervous seeing the love from people,” he posted on X in Gurmukhi.

Why Did The High Court Order A CBI Probe?

The High Court order came on a public interest litigation filed by advocate Nikhil Saraf, who sought an independent investigation into allegations flagged by the ED in letters to the Punjab DGP.

“The material shared by ED prima facie indicated involvement of high public officials in acts of corruption and at least required registering of FIR so that proper investigation in the matter would be carried out. This is not the response of the Punjab Police,” the court observed.

The ED had written three times to the Punjab DGP seeking registration of an FIR against alleged middleman Nitin Gohal and others. The allegations include influencing the transfers and postings of government officials, facilitating arms licence approvals, leaking confidential government documents and securing government approvals in exchange for alleged monetary and other benefits.

What Is The ED Case About?

The ED's communications to the Punjab Police stemmed from a money laundering investigation linked to alleged fake consent letters used to obtain Change of Land Use (CLU) approval in a case involving a housing society.

The agency had conducted searches in May at the premises of Nitin Gohal, Ajay Sehgal of Indian Cooperative House Building Society, the Suntec City Project and others.

The ED later submitted a 200-page affidavit before the Punjab and Haryana High Court in connection with Saraf's PIL.

Bhagwant Mann Calls It BJP's 'Misuse' Of CBI

Reacting to the CBI action, Bhagwant Mann alleged that the BJP was using central investigative agencies to target his government ahead of the Punjab elections.

“The BJP has started preparations for the Punjab elections. A CBI raid was conducted at my camp office. Now, the ED and CBI will be misused in Punjab in order to defame the Punjab government and me. The BJP is rattled by the love being received from the people,” he posted on X.

AAP Hits Back At BJP

AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal also defended the Punjab government and questioned the action against Mann’s OSD.

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“The CBI raid on the Punjab Chief Minister's office two months before the elections is the result of the BJP's frustration. Ever since the BJP government came to power at the Centre, it has always pushed Punjabis around, be it the farmers' movement, the issue of Punjab's water, or the Punjab University issue. And now, it's even pushing around their elected Chief Minister. The BJP can't win elections by contesting in Punjab, so it wants to fight the elections with the help of the ED-CBI,” Kejriwal said.

The party has maintained that the CBI probe should not be used to politically target the elected state government and has rejected the allegations surrounding the functioning of the Punjab CMO.

The BJP, meanwhile, has stepped up its attack on Mann following the CBI action.

BJP leader Ravneet Singh Bittu on Monday called the Punjab Chief Minister “Beimaan Mann” and said the allegations should not be viewed as being limited to his OSD.

“It took five years for them to be completely exposed. Bhagwant Mann is not ‘Mann Sa’ ab’ anymore. He will now be known as ‘Beimaan Mann’. This had never happened before; this is happening in Punjab CMO for the first time,” Bittu said in a video.

He added, “This is not about Bhagwant Mann's OSD. This is about the reputation of the CM house and office. I want to congratulate the lawyer who went to the High Court and presented 200 pages to the ED.”

The CBI has now begun its investigation following the FIR registration and searches, with the agency required to submit its findings to the High Court within two months.


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