The Supreme Court on Monday granted interim relief to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s Officer on Special Duty (OSD), Rajbir Singh Ghuman, directing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) not to take any coercive action against him while allowing the probe into corruption allegations to continue.
A bench of the Supreme Court issued notice on a petition filed by the Punjab government challenging the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s direction to register an FIR and order a CBI investigation into the allegations. However, the court declined to quash or stay the FIR at this stage.
Clarifying its order, the bench said the investigation would continue, but no coercive steps could be taken against those linked to the case for now. The court also observed that the Punjab government and the state authorities must cooperate with the investigation.
The Supreme Court’s order offers Ghuman protection from coercive action for the time being but does not halt the CBI probe into the allegations against him and other persons linked to the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office.
WHAT ARE THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST MANN’S OSD?
The case stems from communications sent by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to the Punjab Director General of Police, flagging alleged corruption involving government transfers and postings, policy decisions, tender processes, licensing matters and land-related dealings.
The ED had sought action against several people, including Ghuman, alleging that private individuals were influencing government decisions and securing favours in return for monetary or other benefits.
The allegations emerged during an ED investigation into a money laundering case involving a housing society and alleged irregularities in obtaining Change of Land Use (CLU) permission. The agency had flagged suspected use of fake consent letters in the process and the alleged involvement of people connected to the Chief Minister’s Office.
After the Punjab Police did not register an FIR on the basis of the ED’s communications, advocate Nikhil Saraf approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court, seeking an independent investigation.
On October 5, the High Court directed the CBI to register a criminal case and investigate the allegations. It also directed the state government and Punjab Police to provide the agency with the necessary documents and assistance.
The CBI subsequently registered an FIR naming Ghuman and other accused in connection with alleged corruption and influence-peddling.
PUNJAB GOVERNMENT CHALLENGED HIGH COURT ORDER
The Punjab government moved the Supreme Court challenging the High Court’s direction for a CBI investigation. The state questioned the legal basis of the order, including the requirement for prior approval before investigating certain decisions taken by public servants in the discharge of their official duties.
The state’s petition argued that the High Court’s order had directed the registration of an FIR into matters involving transfers, tenders and policy decisions without adequately considering the legal safeguards applicable to public servants.
The Supreme Court has issued notice on the state’s plea but has not stayed the FIR or halted the investigation. Its direction against coercive action provides interim protection while the legal challenge remains pending.
The allegations against Ghuman and others remain under investigation and have not been established in court.
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