Chandigarh, October 6 (Daily Kiran) : Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has alleged that recent actions by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) were politically motivated. He accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of gearing up for the upcoming state assembly elections.
The CBI conducted searches at several locations, including Mann’s camp office in Sector 2 of Chandigarh, the residence of his officer on special duty, Rajbir Ghuman, in Harachon village, and a relative’s home in Mohali.
Mann asserted that central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and CBI are being misused to target the Punjab government and its officials. He expressed these concerns in a post on the social media platform X, claiming that the CBI’s actions at his camp office were part of a broader strategy by the BJP, which he believes is anxious about the support his government is receiving from the people of Punjab.
He further alleged that these federal investigations are aimed at tarnishing the image of the state government and its leadership.
These accusations emerged a day after the Punjab and Haryana High Court ordered the CBI to file a case against Ghuman and others over corruption allegations, requiring a status report within two months.
Previously, the ED had sent three letters to Punjab’s Director General of Police, Gaurav Yadav, alleging that Ghuman and his associates, Nitin Gohal and Bir Devinder, were involved in corrupt activities. The agency claimed they were interfering in administrative transfers, postings, and government tenders, and sought to file a First Information Report (FIR).
When the Punjab Police did not act on the ED’s information, lawyer Nikhil Saraf filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, requesting a CBI investigation. Saraf argued that serious allegations were made against individuals connected to the Punjab Chief Minister’s office in the ED’s letters, calling for an independent investigation free from the influence of the Punjab Police and Vigilance Bureau.
The petitioner also sought a thorough investigation into the alleged money trail and demanded appropriate action against those found responsible for any misconduct. The investigation is ongoing, and no conclusions have been reached by the investigative agencies or the court at this time.
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