IndiaPosted at: Oct 8 2026 4:16PM


Supreme Court defers Punjab plea against CBI probe into graft allegations linked to CM's office

Neeraj Bali
New Delhi/Chandigarh, Oct 8 (UNI) The Supreme Court on Thursday deferred until October 9 the Punjab government's challenge to a High Court order directing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to register a criminal case and probe corruption allegations linked to the office of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
The matter came before a bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu, but was adjourned after Justice Datta said the case file had reached Justice Nagu late and the matter could be taken up on Friday.
Senior advocate Vikas Singh, appearing for the Punjab government, sought interim protection against any precipitative action by the investigating agency.
Justice Datta, however, declined to pass an immediate order, questioning how such protection could be granted when the other judge on the bench had not had an opportunity to study the case papers. The matter was then posted for October 9.
The development means the Punjab government did not secure any interim relief on Thursday against the CBI investigation ordered by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
The state has filed a Special Leave Petition challenging the High Court's October 5 order directing the CBI to register a criminal case and conduct a fair investigation into allegations concerning Rajbir Singh Ghuman, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Chief Minister Mann, and others.
The High Court had also directed the Punjab government and Punjab Police to extend all assistance to the CBI and asked the agency to report on its investigation within two months. The directions came on a Public Interest Litigation filed by advocate Nikhil Saraf.
The case stems from information supplied by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to the Punjab Director General of Police alleging corruption involving transfers and postings, government tenders and policies, administrative approvals and access to confidential government material.
The High Court had observed that the allegations, including those concerning alleged cash-for-transfers and favourable policies and tenders, were prima facie supported by material including WhatsApp chats and other information supplied by the ED.
It, however, expressly refrained from reaching any final conclusion on the allegations, saying their merits could be determined only during investigation or trial.
Following the High Court order, the CBI registered a case naming Ghuman and five others and carried out searches at eight locations on Tuesday. The agency's FIR contains the High Court judgment, the ED communication and WhatsApp chats cited by the enforcement agency as part of the material underlying the allegations.
The other accused named in reports on the FIR include Nitin Gohal, Jitin Gohal, Romi Raja Mahajan, Bir Devinder and Rajdeep Singh Nagra.
The CBI subsequently summoned Ghuman for questioning. He did not appear before the agency on Wednesday, a development confirmed by the Chief Minister's Office, according to reports.
The Punjab government moved the Supreme Court arguing against the High Court-directed CBI investigation. While seeking urgent listing earlier this week, Singh told the top court that the matter was politically motivated and was being pursued when the state was approaching elections.
The state has also questioned the High Court's reasoning over Punjab Police's response to information supplied by the ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, arguing that police action was required only where the information disclosed a cognisable offence.
The High Court order had noted that the ED communication reached the Punjab DGP's office in early August but no FIR had been registered even after about two months.
Chief Minister Mann and the ruling Aam Aadmi Party have rejected the corruption allegations and accused central agencies of being used for political purposes. The allegations against Ghuman and the others have not been proved, and the High Court itself has said their merits will have to be tested during investigation and trial.
The Supreme Court's hearing on Friday will now be crucial to whether the CBI investigation continues under the High Court's directions or whether the Punjab government secures any interim protection from the top court.
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Neeraj Bali
New Delhi/Chandigarh, Oct 8 (UNI) The Supreme Court on Thursday deferred until October 9 the Punjab government's challenge to a High Court order directing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to register a criminal case and probe corruption allegations linked to the office of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

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