Punjab AAP Government Faces CBI Probe As High Court Orders Investigation Into Corruption Allegations

The Punjab and Haryana High Court's decision to hand over a corruption investigation to the CBI has brought a wider set of allegations involving people linked to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's office into sharp focus. The case is not limited to alleged cash-for-transfer dealings. The Enforcement Directorate has alleged a network that sought to influence postings, government policies, tenders, licences and other official decisions.

The High Court on Monday directed the CBI to register a case and investigate the allegations, asking it to submit a report within two months. The court also directed Punjab Police and the state government to provide all relevant records and assistance to the central agency, saying a fair and transparent investigation was required.

The allegations stem from an ED money-laundering investigation linked to suspected irregularities in GMADA land allotments and Change of Land Use permissions. During searches, the agency said it recovered digital material and cash from premises linked to private intermediary Nitin Gohal. The ED alleges that Gohal acted as a link between people seeking government favours and Rajbir Singh Ghuman, an OSD to Mann, with Bir Devinder and Jitin Gohal also named as associates.

According to the ED, its examination of WhatsApp chats and other digital evidence identified 21 instances involving transfers and postings. Draft transfer lists allegedly circulated among intermediaries before official orders were issued, involving IAS, IPS, PCS and other officials across departments including police, food and civil supplies, Markfed and GMADA.

The agency has also alleged 11 instances involving payments, kickbacks or other benefits totalling ₹89.55 lakh, apart from alleged hawala transactions. Its broader material reportedly flags 61 suspected irregularities, including government tenders, policy decisions, arms licences, land dealings and access to confidential files.

The allegations include claims that confidential government documents were accessed or shared, arms licences were facilitated and commercial projects received official assistance. The ED has also linked some of its findings to the wider investigation into alleged irregularities surrounding the Suntec City project and land-use approvals.

Punjab Police had been asked by the ED to act on its communications, but the state maintained that the material required examination before criminal action. The High Court was ultimately not satisfied with the manner in which the matter had been handled and chose an agency outside the state police structure.

For the AAP government, the case carries an obvious political dimension with elections approaching. Opposition parties can use the allegations to question the functioning of the Mann administration, while AAP can point out that the claims remain allegations and have not been established in court.

The CBI investigation therefore becomes the crucial next stage: whether the chats, financial records, documents and other material can establish an actual corruption network, identify who benefited and support charges that withstand judicial scrutiny.