The Supreme Court on Monday directed that no coercive steps be taken in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) case involving corruption allegations linked to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s office.
However, the court refused to stay the FIR, allowing the investigation to continue.
A bench of Justices MM Sundresh and Prasanna B Varale issued notice on the Punjab government’s plea challenging a Punjab and Haryana High Court order directing the CBI to register a criminal case.
The notice was also issued to Nikhil Saraf, the advocate whose public interest litigation led to the High Court’s intervention.
The bench also made it clear that the Punjab government must cooperate with the investigation. The order provides interim protection against coercive action but does not quash the FIR or halt the probe.
The case concerns allegations of corruption involving Rajbir Singh Ghuman, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Mann, and five others.
The CBI registered the FIR on October 5, following the High Court’s directions, and conducted searches at eight locations across Punjab and Chandigarh.
The allegations include bribery and the use of influence to secure government transfers and postings, tenders, policy decisions, licences, land-related approvals and other official favours. The case also involves allegations that confidential government documents and draft policies were accessed or shared with private individuals.
These allegations are under investigation and have not been established in court.
Why The High Court Ordered A CBI Probe
The High Court had passed its October 5 order while hearing a PIL filed by Saraf. The petition alleged that the Punjab Police had failed to act on communications from the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which had flagged suspected corruption involving people linked to the Chief Minister’s Office.
According to the material placed before the High Court, Nitin Gohal allegedly acted as an intermediary between people seeking government favours and Ghuman. The alleged favours included transfers and postings, access to confidential documents, arms licences and other administrative approvals.
The High Court, led by Chief Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Rohit Kapoor, directed the CBI to register a case and conduct an investigation. It also ordered the Punjab government and police to provide full assistance to the central agency. The CBI was asked to submit an investigation report within two months, with the matter listed for further consideration on December 7.
The Punjab government subsequently approached the Supreme Court, challenging the High Court’s decision to hand the matter to the CBI. The state has questioned the basis for the direction and argued against the probe.