Chandigarh: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a criminal case against Rajbir Singh Ghuman, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, and five other persons following directions from the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The case has brought allegations of corruption and alleged influence-peddling within the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) under the spotlight.
The FIR was registered on October 5–6, 2026, following an October 5 order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court directing the CBI to investigate allegations forwarded by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The High Court also directed the CBI to submit its report within two months.
Apart from Rajbir Singh Ghuman, the five other persons named in the FIR are Nitin Gohal, Jitin Gohal alias Raja, Romi Raja Mahajan, Bir Devinder and Rajdeep Singh Nagra (also reported as R.S. Nagra).
According to the CBI, the allegations concern an alleged network involved in influencing government transfers and postings, including those of IAS and IPS officers, departmental proceedings, policy formulation, administrative approvals, government tenders, licensing, land-use conversions and property-related matters in exchange for financial benefits.
The investigation also concerns allegations that confidential government documents, including drafts of policies and official orders, were accessed and shared with private individuals before their formal issuance. The allegations reportedly relate to activities between 2023 and 2026.
Following registration of the FIR, CBI teams conducted searches at eight locations across Chandigarh and Punjab, including Chandigarh, Mohali, Gurdaspur, Ludhiana, Patiala, Sangrur and Jalandhar. The searches also covered the camp office of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in Chandigarh. Laptops, mobile phones and documents were reportedly seized for examination.
The case originated from information and material shared by the Enforcement Directorate with the Punjab Police. The ED had raised allegations concerning suspected cash payments for transfers, postings and other government-related favours. Advocate Nikhil Saraf subsequently approached the High Court seeking an independent investigation.
The High Court directed the CBI to register a criminal case after considering the material placed before it. The development raised serious questions about alleged interference in government administration and the functioning of offices connected with the state government.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann criticised the CBI action and alleged that central investigative agencies were being used for political purposes ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections. The Aam Aadmi Party also questioned the timing of the investigation. The BJP, however, maintained that the CBI investigation was ordered by the High Court and not by the BJP.
The Punjab Government challenged the High Court’s direction before the Supreme Court. On October 13, the Supreme Court declined to stay the FIR but directed that no coercive action be taken by the CBI while the matter was being considered. It also asked the Punjab Government to cooperate with the investigation.
The Political and Administrative Questions
The case has placed the functioning of the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office under public scrutiny. The central question is whether individuals allegedly connected with influential government offices exercised improper influence over administrative decisions, transfers, tenders and policy matters.
However, it is important to distinguish between allegations and established facts. Registration of an FIR does not establish guilt, and neither the Chief Minister nor the other persons named can be declared guilty merely because an investigation has been initiated. The CBI investigation and subsequent judicial proceedings will determine the facts and individual responsibility.
Punjab now awaits the outcome of the investigation, which could have important implications for transparency, accountability and public confidence in the state’s administrative system.