ED raids: Akali Dal demands probe into Punjab CM aide's 'cash rain' scandal
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Thursday, 7 May demanded an independent probe into alleged money collection by close associates of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's Officer on Special Duty (OSD), Rajbir Ghuman, following Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids that reportedly exposed illegal sand mining and liquor rackets linked to the CM's office. The dramatic scenes outside a ninth-floor apartment in Chandigarh — where associates of Ghuman allegedly threw bagfuls of cash into the air after the ED arrived — have triggered a sharp political response from the opposition.
What the ED Raids Uncovered
The three individuals raided by the ED on Thursday were identified as Nitin Gohal, Birdevinder Singh, and Pritpal Dhindsa — all described by SAD as close associates of OSD Rajbir Ghuman. According to SAD leader and former Cabinet minister Bikram Singh Majithia, the three individuals share cars, phones, homes, and offices with Ghuman, suggesting deep operational ties.
Majithia alleged that the group was involved in acquiring agricultural land from farmers at below-market rates and selling it to builders for kickbacks. He further claimed the associates had enabled illegal sand mining on multiple plots without requisite environmental or regulatory clearances.
Liquor Mafia and Hawala Allegations
SAD also alleged that the same network was operating an illegal liquor mafia. Majithia claimed that proceeds from these rackets were being routed abroad — specifically to Australia and Canada — through hawala transactions. He alleged that Ghuman had amassed sufficient wealth to construct a bunker inside his residence in Gharachon village, and demanded that the OSD's home and all associated properties be searched to recover what he called
