The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday, October 5, directed the Central Bureau of Investigation to examine corruption allegations raised by the Enforcement Directorate involving people linked to Punjab’s Chief Minister’s Office. The bench of Chief Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Rohit Kapoor sought a report within two months.
The direction came on advocate Nikhil Saraf’s public interest petition seeking an investigation outside the Punjab Police and Vigilance Bureau. Saraf argued that the state police had not registered a case despite the ED’s communications to Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav. The petition asked for examination of the alleged financial transactions and official decision-making.
The ED’s allegations concern Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s officer on special duty, Rajbir Singh Ghuman, and private individuals including Nitin Gohal and Bir Devinder. The agency alleged interference in government transfers, postings, tenders and administrative approvals, along with access to confidential documents. These are investigative claims; the referral does not establish that the alleged conduct occurred.
Ghuman and Gohal have denied wrongdoing. Mann had also rejected the ED’s allegations last month and accused the BJP of using central agencies against political opponents. The Punjab government’s position before the ruling was that police needed to examine the material supplied by the ED and determine the alleged offences before taking further action.
ED counsel Dheeraj Jain said the bench also directed the Punjab government and police to hand relevant documents to the CBI. He said a detailed written order was awaited. The reported two-month requirement is for an investigation status report, not a deadline for conviction or a finding of guilt against any person.