The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Central Bureau of Investigation to launch an inquiry into corruption allegations involving Rajbir Singh Ghuman, an Officer on Special Duty to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, alongside two other individuals. The central agency has been instructed to complete its preliminary work and deliver an investigation report to the bench within two months.
The judicial directive instructs the federal agency to examine accusations of illicit interference in government procurement tenders as well as state administrative transfers and postings. The matter also names Nitin Gohal and Bir Devinder as alleged participants in the illicit activities.
Origins Of The Judicial Intervention
The High Court intervened after hearing a Public Interest Litigation filed by advocate Nikhil Saraf. The petition was initiated after the Punjab Police did not register a First Information Report despite receiving three formal communications from the Enforcement Directorate.
The federal financial probe agency had written to Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav, sharing evidence gathered during its own inquiries and calling for criminal proceedings against Ghuman, Gohal, and Devinder. With no formal case initiated at the state level, the petitioner requested judicial intervention to mandate a neutral inquiry.
The petitioner argued that any credible examination into the alleged corruption and the accompanying financial trail required complete independence from the Punjab Police and the state Vigilance Bureau. Following the hearing, the High Court concurred that the matter warranted an independent central inquiry and placed the investigation under the oversight of the federal agency with a sixty-day reporting mandate.
Political Opposition Demands And Repercussions
The court ruling follows sustained criticism from opposition parties over the Punjab government’s handling of the Enforcement Directorate’s warnings.
The Shiromani Akali Dal had previously approached Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, petitioning for a court-monitored, time-bound federal inquiry. The party questioned why law enforcement authorities had failed to act on the communications, urging an investigation into potential networks connecting government officials, intermediaries, real estate developers, and beneficiaries.
The Bharatiya Janata Party had similarly voiced objections regarding the lack of police action. Former Union Minister Vijay Sampla had demanded the immediate registration of an FIR, an inquiry by the central agency, and the formal safeguarding of digital, financial, and physical documentation related to the case. Following the court order, senior state BJP leader Tikshan Sud remarked that the directives confirmed the necessity of examining the issues flagged repeatedly by the central agency.
Developments And Procedural Timeline
The High Court ruling coincided with the appearance of senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia before a Special Investigation Team conducting an inquiry into a case registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.
Speaking before his appearance, Majithia criticized the Aam Aadmi Party administration, stating that the judicial order challenged the state government’s anti-corruption credentials and cited inaction over the federal communications as evidence of administrative failure.
The allegations highlighted in the proceedings remain subject to verification through the newly initiated inquiry. The findings compiled by the central agency over the next two months are expected to determine subsequent legal actions.
