The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to register a criminal case and investigate allegations of corruption involving Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's Officer on Special Duty (OSD) Rajbir Singh Ghuman and his associates — a development that Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former minister Bikram Singh Majithia on Monday, 5 October, described as a significant turning point in Punjab politics.

What the High Court Ordered

The court directed the CBI to register a criminal case, conduct a thorough investigation into the allegations, and submit a status report within two months. The matter reached the court through a public interest petition, after which the High Court transferred the probe from the state police to the federal agency. According to Majithia, the case had effectively moved beyond political point-scoring into the realm of formal legal accountability.

The Enforcement Directorate Angle

A particularly pointed aspect of the case, according to Majithia, is that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had written three letters to the Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) seeking registration of an FIR over the alleged corruption — yet no action was taken. It was this inaction, critics argue, that ultimately prompted the public interest petition and the subsequent High Court intervention directing a CBI probe.

Allegations Against Police Officers

Majithia alleged that certain police officers had attempted to stall the proceedings and allegedly destroy evidence in order to shield individuals close to Chief Minister Mann, including OSD Ghuman, Ghuman's associate Nitin Gohal, and others. He also alleged that former DGP L.K. Yadav was involved in this process. Majithia called on the CBI to investigate what decisions were taken on the ED's letters, by which officers, and why there was a delay in registering an FIR.

Akali Dal's Demands

'The questions we have been putting before the people of Punjab for a long time must now be answered through evidence during the investigation. The truth must come out,' Majithia said. He further demanded that if any attempt was made to tamper with evidence or shield accused individuals at any level, responsibility must be fixed and strict action taken against officials found responsible. This comes amid a broader political contest between the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab and the opposition SAD, which has consistently raised corruption allegations against the Mann administration.

What Happens Next

The CBI is now required to submit a status report to the court within two months. The agency's findings on whether the Punjab Police acted on the ED's letters — and whether any attempt was made to obstruct the investigation — could have significant political consequences for the state government. The Bhagwant Mann government has not yet issued an official response to the High Court's order or the Akali Dal's allegations.