Ludhiana: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) held a protest outside the BJP office in Ludhiana on Wednesday against the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) searches at locations linked to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s office and his Officer on Special Duty (OSD), Rajbir Singh Ghuman.
AAP leaders and workers gathered outside the BJP office in Dugri and attempted to move towards the premises. Police had put up barricades to prevent protesters from advancing, leading to a confrontation between party workers and police personnel.
The protest followed the CBI’s searches at eight locations across Punjab and Chandigarh on Tuesday in connection with allegations of corruption and influence-peddling. The agency has registered a case against Ghuman and five others and seized documents, laptops and mobile phones during the searches.
The CBI has summoned Ghuman and the five other accused to appear before its Chandigarh office in connection with allegations raised by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), including alleged influence over transfers and postings and government tender-related matters. Ghuman was asked to appear at 2.30pm on Wednesday.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said his government would respond to the notice. Questioning the allegations, Mann said there was no chat naming him and alleged that the investigation was being pursued to damage his reputation.
The Punjab government has challenged the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s order directing the CBI investigation in the Supreme Court, while the probe by the central agency is continuing.
