The CBI on Tuesday conducted coordinated searches at eight locations across Punjab and Chandigarh, including the camp office of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, in connection with the alleged “cash for postings and favourable tenders” scam.
The case involves allegations of corruption and influence-peddling involving CM Mann’s Officer on Special Duty (OSD) Rajbir Singh Ghuman and others. The search and seizure operation was initiated after the CBI registered an FIR on the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court against six persons — Nitin Gohal, Jitin Gohal, alias Raja, Romi Raja Mahajan, Bir Devinder, RS Nagra and Ghuman.
Searches were conducted at the residences of the six accused and their relatives in Sangrur, Mohali, Patiala, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Gurdaspur, besides the camp office of the CM. The exercise began around 5.30 pm and ended at 11 pm.
Reacting to the searches, CM Mann said the BJP was misusing the CBI to defame him. Claiming that the party was “fearful of the love and support he enjoyed among Punjabis”, he said, “The raids are aimed at tarnishing my image ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections. The BJP is misusing the ED and the CBI.”
Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema termed the action a predictable pattern before the elections. “The BJP uses the CBI, the ED, Income Tax officials and the Election Commission in poll-bound states where Opposition parties are in power. These agencies are tools of the BJP. All allegations are false and AAP is the only party that has given a corruption-free government to Punjab,” he said.
