CHANDIGARH: The investigation into alleged corruption involving Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s Officer on Special Duty Rajbir Singh Ghuman has widened, with the CBI seeking departmental records from the Punjab government and the Enforcement Directorate reportedly registering a separate money laundering case.
The developments follow the Supreme Court’s October 12 decision declining to stay the CBI FIR while directing that no coercive action be taken against the accused in the meantime. A bench of Justices M.M. Sundresh and Prasanna B. Varale issued notice on the Punjab government’s challenge to the High Court-ordered investigation and asked the state to cooperate with the probe.
According to official sources cited by a leading English newspaper, the CBI has sought files concerning alleged influence-peddling in postings, tenders and policy decisions detailed in its 251-page FIR.
The state Personnel Department forwarded the agency’s communication to administrative heads on October 13, asking them to provide the records to the CBI’s Chandigarh office within two days. Separate communications reportedly asked departments to send the records by Wednesday through officers capable of assisting investigators.
The departments concerned include Home Affairs, Revenue, Food and Supplies, Local Government, Housing, Personnel, Power, Health, Jails, Cooperation, Rural Development and Panchayats, and Forests.
Meanwhile, reports published on October 13 said the ED’s Jalandhar office had registered an Enforcement Case Information Report in connection with the alleged corruption network. The Statesman reported that official confirmation of the ECIR and its precise scope was not immediately available.
The reported ED proceedings concern allegations involving government transfers, postings, contracts and land-related approvals. No fresh ED summons specifically requiring Ghuman’s appearance could be independently verified from the reports reviewed.
Ghuman had earlier failed to appear for CBI questioning. According to a PTI report dated October 9, the agency issued fresh summons after he did not attend the scheduled questioning, with Ghuman maintaining that he had not received the earlier notice. Investigators subsequently pasted summons at his premises and also emailed them.
The CBI has named Ghuman, Nitin Gohal, Jitin Gohal alias Raja, Romi Raja Mahajan, Bir Devinder and R.S. Nagra, along with unidentified public servants and private persons. The agency alleges that official decisions were influenced for financial benefits and that draft government orders and policies were accessed and shared with private individuals before their issuance.
The investigation originated from material shared by the ED with Punjab Police. On October 5, the Punjab and Haryana High Court directed the CBI to investigate and submit a report within two months. The court observed that the allegations would have to be tested during investigation and trial.
The ruling AAP has described the central agencies’ actions as politically motivated. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has accused the BJP-led Centre of targeting his administration ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections and denied the corruption allegations.
The allegations against Ghuman and the other accused remain under investigation; no finding of criminal guilt has been established.