CBI raids Punjab CM's office: Kejriwal calls it 'BJP's frustration' before polls
Synopsis
Two months before Punjab polls, the CBI raided Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's camp office in Chandigarh over an OSD corruption case — acting on a High Court order and an ED report. Kejriwal's immediate 'BJP frustration' response signals AAP will fight this battle at the ballot box, not just in court.
Key Takeaways
CBI raided Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann's camp office and eight locations in Chandigarh, Mohali, Jalandhar and other cities on 6 October 2026 .
An FIR was registered against six persons , including OSD Rajbir Singh Ghuman , in an alleged bribery and impropriety case.
The CBI action was ordered by the Punjab and Haryana High Court following an Enforcement Directorate report.
Arvind Kejriwal called the raids the 'result of BJP's frustration' and accused the BJP of using central agencies instead of contesting elections fairly.
Kejriwal predicted AAP would win 100+ seats in the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections , framing the raids as a political move.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday, 6 October sharply condemned the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) after it raided Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's camp office in Chandigarh, calling the action the 'result of BJP's frustration' ahead of state elections. The CBI conducted searches at eight locations across Chandigarh, Mohali, Jalandhar, and other cities as part of a corruption probe linked to the CM's Officer on Special Duty (OSD), Rajbir Singh Ghuman.
What the CBI Did
The CBI took over an investigation into alleged corruption involving Rajbir Singh Ghuman, OSD to Chief Minister Mann, along with five other individuals. An FIR has been registered against six persons — including two public servants, middlemen and associates — namely Rajbir Singh Ghuman, Nitin Gohal, Jitin Gohal alias Raja, Romi Raja Mahajan, Bir Devinder, R.S. Nagra, and unknown public servants and private persons.
During the searches, the agency reportedly collected incriminating material including laptops, mobile phones, and documents, which were dispatched to a forensic laboratory for data extraction linked to the alleged bribery and impropriety, according to an official statement from the CBI.
The probe agency stated that the FIR was registered following orders from the Punjab and Haryana High Court and upon receipt of a report from the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
Kejriwal's Rebuttal: Political Vendetta Charge
In a post on social media platform X, Kejriwal said: 'The CBI raid on the Punjab Chief Minister's office two months before the elections is the result of the BJP's frustration.' He went on to allege that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the Centre has 'always pushed Punjabis around — be it the farmers' movement, the issue of Punjab's water, or the Punjab University issue.'
Kejriwal further alleged that since the BJP cannot secure an electoral win in Punjab, 'it wants to fight the elections with the help of ED-CBI.' This framing echoes a pattern seen in previous AAP statements whenever central agencies have acted against the party or allied state governments.
AAP's Electoral Confidence
Despite the raids, Kejriwal expressed strong confidence in the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections, predicting that voters would respond by 're-electing Bhagwant Mann with 100+ seats and making him Chief Minister again.' The claim signals that AAP intends to frame the CBI action as an electoral issue rather than engage it on legal grounds.
Background and Context
This is not the first time AAP has faced central agency scrutiny in a state it governs. In Delhi, both Kejriwal and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia faced CBI and ED probes in an alleged liquor policy scam — proceedings that have become a recurring flashpoint between the party and the Centre. Critics argue that the timing of such raids — ahead of elections — raises questions about institutional independence, while the BJP and the central agencies have maintained that all actions are legally sanctioned and court-directed. Notably, the Punjab and Haryana High Court explicitly ordered the CBI to register the FIR in this instance, lending judicial backing to the investigation.
As election season approaches in Punjab, the CBI action and the political fallout are likely to intensify, with both sides framing the narrative to their advantage ahead of the vote.
Point of View
Not just whether, agencies act. What is missing from the coverage is a forensic accounting of the ED report that triggered the court order — its contents would tell voters whether this is substantive or strategic. Until that is public, both sides will claim the moral high ground, and the electorate will be left to judge without full facts.
NationPress
6 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the CBI raid Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann's camp office?
The CBI raided the Punjab Chief Minister's camp office in Chandigarh as part of a corruption investigation linked to CM Mann's OSD, Rajbir Singh Ghuman, and five associates. The probe was initiated following a Punjab and Haryana High Court order and an Enforcement Directorate report alleging bribery and impropriety.
Who has been named in the CBI FIR over the Punjab OSD case?
The CBI registered an FIR against six persons: Rajbir Singh Ghuman (OSD to CM Mann), Nitin Gohal, Jitin Gohal alias Raja, Romi Raja Mahajan, Bir Devinder, and R.S. Nagra, along with unknown public servants and private persons.
What did Arvind Kejriwal say about the CBI raids?
Kejriwal posted on X that the raids were 'the result of the BJP's frustration' timed ahead of Punjab elections. He alleged the BJP uses central agencies like the CBI and ED to contest elections it cannot win on merit, and predicted AAP would return to power with 100+ seats.
What evidence did the CBI collect during the Punjab raids?
During searches at eight locations, the CBI collected laptops, mobile phones, and documents, all of which were sent to a forensic laboratory for data extraction related to the alleged bribery case, according to an official CBI statement.
How does this case compare to earlier CBI-AAP confrontations?
This follows a pattern of central agency action against AAP-governed states. In Delhi, the CBI and ED investigated the alleged liquor policy scam, leading to the arrest of senior AAP leaders. AAP has consistently characterised such actions as politically motivated, while agencies and the BJP maintain all proceedings are legally sanctioned.
