Punjab HC orders CBI probe into CMO corruption allegations, BJP attacks Mann
Synopsis
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has handed over the CBI a probe into corruption allegations directly involving the Chief Minister's Office — a significant judicial escalation that tests AAP's founding promise of corruption-free governance in Punjab. BJP's Ravneet Singh Bittu has moved swiftly to frame the order as a verdict on Bhagwant Mann's credibility.
Key Takeaways
The Punjab and Haryana High Court directed on 5 October 2026 that the CBI take over the probe into ED letters alleging corruption against CM's OSD Rajbir Singh Ghuman and others.
The petition, filed by advocate Nikhil Saraf , runs over 200 pages and alleges illegal payments linked to official transfers, GMADA / GLADA projects, arms licences, land matters, and mining.
The ED had reportedly sent four letters to the Punjab DGP seeking responses, but received none, according to BJP leader Ravneet Singh Bittu .
BJP used the HC order to mount a sharp attack on Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann , calling his anti-corruption credentials into question.
The AAP government, which won Punjab in 2022 on an anti-corruption mandate, had not publicly responded to the court's direction at the time of reporting.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court on 5 October 2026 directed that the investigation into letters sent by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) — containing corruption allegations against Chief Minister's Officer on Special Duty (OSD) Rajbir Singh Ghuman and others — be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The order has triggered a sharp political offensive by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) against the Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab.
BJP's Attack on the CMO
BJP leader Ravneet Singh Bittu launched a pointed broadside against Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, arguing that the High Court's intervention had raised serious questions about accountability at the highest levels of the state government. 'It's not Bhagwant Mann, it's dishonest Mann. The man who came to power with the promise of making Punjab corruption-free must now answer serious questions about his own office. AAP's lofty claims of 'radical honesty' are being truly tested today,' Bittu said.
Bittu described the allegations concerning the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) as 'extremely worrying' and said the people of Punjab deserved 'clear and transparent answers rather than political slogans, explanations or excuses.' He also referred to recent controversies surrounding ministers' residences in Chandigarh as further evidence of accountability questions surrounding those in power.
What the Petition Alleges
The High Court's directive came in the context of a petition filed by advocate Nikhil Saraf, running into more than 200 pages, which raised serious allegations regarding the functioning of the CMO. According to the petition, illegal payments were allegedly being demanded in connection with appointments and transfers of government officials, major development projects by the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) and the Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA), arms licences, land-related matters, and mining activities. The court, in directing the CBI to take over, appears to have found sufficient basis for a deeper independent probe.
The ED Letters and the Government's Response
Bittu claimed that the ED had sent four letters to the Punjab Director General of Police seeking a response to the corruption allegations, but that no reply was received. The High Court, according to Bittu, had allowed the Punjab government to present its position in the matter before issuing its order. This comes amid a broader pattern of tension between state AAP governments and central investigative agencies — a dynamic that has played out in Delhi and Jharkhand in recent years.
Notably, Bittu singled out advocate Saraf for praise, saying the petitioner had pursued the matter 'despite alleged pressure and threats,' a claim that — if established — would add a further dimension of seriousness to the proceedings.
BJP's Demands and Broader Context
Welcoming the CBI transfer, Bittu demanded that the investigation be conducted 'independently and without fear or favour,' and called for accountability irrespective of political standing or official position. 'The people of Punjab were promised 'radical honesty,' but today the credibility of that slogan is facing the ultimate test,' he said.
The AAP government, which swept to power in Punjab in 2022 on an anti-corruption platform, has not yet publicly responded to the High Court's direction. The CBI's next steps — including whether it will seek remand or conduct searches — are expected to define the political trajectory of this case in the weeks ahead.
Point of View
Whose entire political identity in Punjab rests on the 'corruption-free government' promise, a High Court-directed CBI probe into the Chief Minister's own office is not merely a legal event — it is a brand crisis. The 200-page petition and the ED's unanswered letters suggest this is not a thin allegation; the court's decision to escalate to the CBI rather than allow the state police to investigate signals a credibility deficit that Bhagwant Mann cannot paper over with slogans. BJP's framing of this as 'dishonest Mann' is politically opportunistic, but the underlying judicial development is substantive. The real question is whether the CBI — itself frequently accused of political deployment — can conduct a probe that all sides accept as credible.
NationPress
5 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Punjab and Haryana High Court order a CBI probe into the Punjab CMO?
The High Court directed the CBI to investigate after examining a petition filed by advocate Nikhil Saraf, which raised allegations that corruption was occurring within the Chief Minister's Office, including illegal payments linked to official transfers, GMADA and GLADA projects, arms licences, land deals, and mining. The court's move followed ED letters to the Punjab DGP that reportedly went unanswered.
Who is Rajbir Singh Ghuman and what are the allegations against him?
Rajbir Singh Ghuman is the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) attached to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's office. He is among those named in ED letters that allege corruption, which the Punjab and Haryana High Court has now directed the CBI to investigate. The allegations have not been proven in court.
What does BJP's Ravneet Singh Bittu demand from the CBI investigation?
BJP leader Ravneet Singh Bittu has welcomed the CBI's mandate and demanded an independent, impartial probe 'without fear or favour.' He has called for accountability for anyone found to have engaged in wrongdoing, irrespective of their political standing or official position, and has demanded that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann answer questions about his office.
How has the AAP government responded to the High Court's order?
As of the time of reporting on 5 October 2026, the AAP government had not issued a public statement in response to the High Court's direction to hand the investigation to the CBI. The court had earlier allowed the state government to present its position before passing the order.
What is the political significance of this case for AAP in Punjab?
AAP swept to power in Punjab in 2022 on a platform centred on delivering a corruption-free administration. A High Court-ordered CBI investigation into the Chief Minister's own office directly challenges that founding claim and gives the BJP a potent line of political attack ahead of future electoral cycles in the state.
