Akali Dal demands CBI probe into Punjab Vigilance corruption, targets Mann and Kejriwal
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Tuesday, 12 May demanded a high-level probe into the alleged roles of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convener Arvind Kejriwal in facilitating corruption within the state's Vigilance Bureau, which was raided by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday night. The demand came a day after the CBI raid sent shockwaves through Punjab's law enforcement establishment.
What Triggered the Demand
SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia, speaking to reporters in Chandigarh, questioned the circumstances under which accused private individuals allegedly escaped trap operations with the help of AK-47-wielding Punjab Police gunmen. He claimed this was evidenced when accused persons Vikas Goel and Raghav Goel were arrested by the CBI near Ambala in the company of two armed security personnel. Majithia demanded to know who authorised official security cover for private middlemen, alleging the protection came at the political behest of Mann and Kejriwal.
Key Allegations Against the Vigilance Bureau
Majithia alleged that O.P. Rana, the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to DGP Vigilance Sharad Satya Chauhan, had demanded ₹20 lakh to settle a probe and had reportedly accepted ₹13 lakh. The SAD leader described this as evidence of what he called
