Punjab govt moves SC against HC-ordered CBI probe into Mann OSD Rajvir Ghuman
Synopsis
The Punjab government's move to challenge a High Court-ordered CBI probe in the Supreme Court puts Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's anti-corruption credentials on the line. The case originates from three ED letters to the state's top cop alleging that Mann's own OSD was interfering in transfers, postings, and government tenders — letters the Punjab Police reportedly sat on without registering an FIR.
Key Takeaways
The Punjab government filed an SLP (Diary No.
62464/2026) in the Supreme Court on 6 October 2026 against the Punjab and Haryana High Court 's CBI probe order.
The HC directed the CBI to register a case and submit a status report within two months , with full cooperation from the state.
The case stems from three ED letters to Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav alleging corruption by CM Bhagwant Mann 's OSD Rajvir Ghuman and associates Nitin Gohal and Bir Devinder .
The Punjab Police did not register an FIR on the ED communications, prompting advocate Nikhil Saraf to file a PIL before the High Court.
BJP Punjab President Kewal Singh Dhillon demanded Chief Minister Mann 's immediate resignation, calling the HC order an exposure of the AAP government's 'zero-tolerance' anti-corruption claim.
The Punjab government on 6 October 2026 filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court challenging the Punjab and Haryana High Court's order directing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe corruption allegations against Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's Officer on Special Duty (OSD) Rajvir Ghuman and his associates. The petition, registered as Diary No. 62464/2026, was filed through the state's Home Department in the early hours of Tuesday and is currently listed as 'pending' on the apex court's official website.
Background: The ED Letters That Triggered the Case
The controversy stems from three letters written by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav, alleging that OSD Rajvir Ghuman and his associates Nitin Gohal and Bir Devinder were involved in corruption. The central anti-money laundering agency specifically alleged that they were interfering in administrative transfers, postings, and government tenders, and had called for the registration of an FIR.
When the Punjab Police did not register a case based on these ED communications, advocate Nikhil Saraf filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) before the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Saraf argued that the ED letters carried serious allegations concerning persons linked to the Punjab Chief Minister's Office (CMO) and sought a 'fair and independent investigation' free from the influence of the Punjab Police and Punjab Vigilance. He also sought a probe into the alleged money trail.
What the High Court Ordered
The Punjab and Haryana High Court accepted the PIL and directed the CBI to register a case and take over the investigation. The court set a two-month deadline for the CBI to submit a status report and directed the Punjab government and police to extend full cooperation to the investigative agency. The state government moved the Supreme Court just a day after this High Court order was passed.
BJP Demands Mann's Resignation
Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Kewal Singh Dhillon welcomed the High Court's decision and launched a sharp attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. Speaking to the media in Chandigarh on Monday, Dhillon said the development had 'exposed the reality' behind a government that claims to follow a 'zero-tolerance' policy towards corruption. He demanded that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann should resign immediately, alleging that the government had lost the moral right to remain in power.
Dhillon also questioned why the state government had allegedly resisted an investigation despite receiving three successive communications from the ED. He urged the Punjab government and police to provide all necessary records to the CBI and cooperate fully so the probe could be completed within the court-mandated two-month window.
What Happens Next
The Supreme Court SLP is currently pending, and its admission or rejection will determine whether the High Court's CBI probe order is stayed. If the apex court declines to stay the order, the CBI would be expected to register a case and begin its investigation. The political stakes are high for the Mann government, which has built its brand around anti-corruption credentials, as the case places those very claims under scrutiny before the courts.
Point of View
But politically it is a double-edged move. AAP built its entire electoral brand on fighting corruption; rushing to the apex court within 24 hours of a High Court order directing investigation into its own CMO's alleged misconduct invites an obvious counter-narrative. The more consequential question is why the Punjab Police did not act on not one but three successive ED letters — that silence, not the High Court order, is what demands explanation. If the Supreme Court declines to stay the probe, the CBI investigation will unfold in real time against a government that has repeatedly claimed moral superiority on this very issue.
NationPress
6 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has the Punjab government moved the Supreme Court against the CBI probe?
The Punjab government filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court on 6 October 2026, challenging the Punjab and Haryana High Court's order directing the CBI to investigate corruption allegations against CM Bhagwant Mann's OSD Rajvir Ghuman. The SLP is currently listed as pending; the state has not yet publicly detailed its legal grounds for the challenge.
What are the corruption allegations against Rajvir Ghuman?
The Enforcement Directorate wrote three letters to Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav alleging that OSD Rajvir Ghuman and his associates Nitin Gohal and Bir Devinder were interfering in administrative transfers, postings, and government tenders. The ED called for registration of an FIR; the Punjab Police did not act on these communications.
What did the Punjab and Haryana High Court order?
The High Court directed the CBI to register a case arising from the three ED letters and submit a status report within two months. It also directed the Punjab government and police to extend full cooperation to the CBI during the investigation.
Who filed the PIL that led to the High Court's CBI order?
Advocate Nikhil Saraf filed the PIL before the Punjab and Haryana High Court after the Punjab Police failed to register an FIR based on the ED's repeated communications. Saraf sought a fair and independent investigation free from the influence of the Punjab Police and Punjab Vigilance, and also sought a probe into the alleged money trail.
What has the BJP said about the CBI probe order?
Punjab BJP President Kewal Singh Dhillon welcomed the High Court's CBI probe order and demanded CM Bhagwant Mann's immediate resignation, alleging the government had lost the moral right to remain in power. He called the development an exposure of the AAP government's claimed 'zero-tolerance' policy on corruption.
