Chandigarh: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has summoned Rajbir Singh Ghuman, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, for questioning in connection with allegations of corruption linked to the Chief Minister’s Office.
Ghuman has been asked to appear before the CBI at its Chandigarh office on Wednesday. Investigators are expected to question him about allegations flagged by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), including claims of cash-for-transfer-posting arrangements and alleged interference in government tenders and other administrative matters.
The summons comes a day after the CBI registered a case against Ghuman and five others following directions from the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The agency subsequently conducted coordinated searches at eight locations across Chandigarh and Punjab, including the Chief Minister’s camp office in Chandigarh and premises linked to Ghuman.
The searches were carried out in Chandigarh, Mohali, Gurdaspur, Ludhiana, Patiala, Sangrur and Jalandhar. The CBI said laptops, mobile phones and documents were seized and would be examined as part of the investigation.
The probe follows allegations raised by the ED concerning alleged influence over officer postings, policy decisions, administrative approvals, tender conditions, licensing matters and land-related issues in exchange for financial benefits.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court had directed the CBI to investigate the allegations after considering material provided by the ED. The Punjab government has challenged the high court’s order in the Supreme Court.
The allegations are under investigation, and the accused have not been convicted of any wrongdoing.
