Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Under Pressure As CBI Names OSD In 251-Page Corruption FIR

The Bhagwant Mann government in Punjab came under mounting pressure on Wednesday as the CBI widened its probe into alleged corruption linked to the chief minister’s office, a day after registering a 251-page FIR and conducting searches at eight locations across Punjab and Chandigarh.

The CBI has named Mann’s Officer on Special Duty (OSD), Rajbir Singh Ghuman, and five others, Nitin Gohal, Jitin Gohal alias Raja, Romi Raja Mahajan, Bir Devinder and R S Nagra. An OSD is generally appointed to assist a chief minister with special assignments, coordinate with government departments and officials, and follow up on matters entrusted by the CM.

The case stems from material gathered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) during a separate money-laundering investigation linked to alleged irregularities involving GMADA land allotments and Change of Land Use permissions. The ED had shared the material with Punjab authorities and sought registration of a criminal case, following which the matter reached the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

On October 5, the High Court directed the CBI to register a case and investigate the material placed before it. The court referred to allegations of a possible system involving “cash for transfers”, “cash for getting favourable policies” and “cash for tenders”, while making clear that the allegations had not been proved and would have to be tested through investigation and trial. The court also directed the CBI to conduct a fair and transparent investigation and submit a status report within two months.

The CBI’s FIR covers alleged wrongdoing between 2023 and 2026, with 61 instances drawn from the ED material. The allegations include attempts to influence IAS and IPS postings, departmental proceedings, policy decisions, administrative approvals, tenders, licences, land-use permissions, property disputes and Revenue Department matters. The agency is also examining allegations of confidential government information being shared with private individuals.

The CBI searched Mann’s Sector 2 camp office, Ghuman-linked premises and other locations in Sangrur, Mohali, Patiala, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Gurdaspur. Electronic devices and documents were seized for examination.

The agency summoned all six accused for questioning on Wednesday, but Ghuman did not appear. The chief minister’s office said he had not been served the summons.

Meanwhile, the Punjab government has approached the Supreme Court challenging the High Court’s direction. Mann has rejected the allegations, accused the BJP of political targeting ahead of the Punjab elections and said nothing incriminating was found during the searches.

The BJP and other opposition parties have demanded accountability, while stressing that the CBI action followed a High Court order rather than a BJP or Centre directive.