Chandigarh-(Punjab Outlook News Report)A five-member delegation of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), led by party president Sukhbir Singh Badal, on Thursday approached Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, seeking his intervention into what the party described as “massive corruption charges” involving Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s Office on Special Duty (OSD) Rajbir Ghuman and the Chief Minister’s wife, Dr. Gurpreet Kaur.
According to the Akali Dal, the allegations centre on an alleged ₹5-crore bribe purportedly sought to suppress a rape case. The party has demanded that the allegations be investigated independently and that those responsible be brought before the law. The allegations have not been established in court, and the persons named have the right to respond and defend themselves.
The delegation submitted a memorandum to Governor Kataria and placed three major demands before him. First, the Akali Dal demanded the immediate resignation of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, arguing that the allegations involve individuals close to the Chief Minister and therefore raise questions about the functioning and accountability of his office.
Second, the party demanded an independent CBI inquiry into all alleged corruption involving the Chief Minister’s office and family. The Akali Dal argued that an investigation by an agency independent of the Punjab government was necessary to establish the facts and ensure public confidence in the process.
The third demand was for the registration of an FIR against Dr. Gurpreet Kaur and OSD Rajbir Ghuman, based on the allegations cited by the party. The SAD said that the allegations should be investigated through due legal process and that no individual should be above accountability.
The delegation included senior Akali leaders Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema, Bikram Singh Majithia, Maheshinder Singh Grewal and Sikandar Singh Maluka, besides party president Sukhbir Singh Badal.
In its political attack on the Aam Aadmi Party government, the Akali Dal alleged that the controversy raises broader questions about the government’s commitment to protecting women and maintaining institutional integrity. The party said the AAP government had “no moral authority” to continue in office if allegations concerning the handling of a rape case and an alleged bribe were found to have substance.
The SAD also sought to turn the controversy into a wider political issue, saying that Punjab’s “Maawan-Dheeyan” (mothers and daughters) deserve justice and that the party would not accept anything less than a thorough investigation.
The allegations now place additional pressure on the Punjab government to clarify the facts and respond to the specific charges raised by the opposition party. The key question is whether the allegations will result in a formal criminal investigation and whether the evidence, if any, can withstand independent legal scrutiny.
For the moment, the allegations remain political and legal accusations requiring investigation, rather than proven findings of criminal wrongdoing.