CBI Raids Punjab CM's Aide in Corruption Probe

The Central Bureau of Investigation conducted searches in Chandigarh's Sector 2 area as part of a corruption probe into Rajbir Singh Ghuman, the Officer on Special Duty to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. The investigation, directed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, examines allegations that Ghuman and his associates manipulated policy formulation, officer postings, and land-use conversions for financial gain.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann dismissed the raids as a pre-planned strategy by the BJP to intimidate political opponents ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections. In response, the Aam Aadmi Party government has challenged the CBI probe in the Supreme Court.

Opposition leaders have called for transparency and accountability. Punjab Congress in-charge Sachin Pilot demanded a time-bound investigation to reveal the truth, citing the emergence of WhatsApp chats and files linked to the Chief Minister's office. Meanwhile, BJP leader Sunil Kumar Jakhar accused the AAP government and Arvind Kejriwal of intending to loot the state.