The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a case over alleged corruption against Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s Officer on Special Duty (OSD) Rajbir Singh Ghuman, along with around half a dozen employees, intermediaries and other unidentified government and private individuals.
 

The case was registered against Rajbir Singh Ghuman, Nitin Goyal, Jitin Goyal alias Raja, Romi Raja Mahajan, Bir Davinder, RS Nagra and others following directions from the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
 

CBI teams carried out searches at eight locations across Punjab and Chandigarh, including the Chief Minister’s camp office and premises in Mohali, Gurdaspur, Ludhiana, Patiala, Sangrur and Jalandhar. Laptops, mobile phones and other documents were seized during the searches.
 

According to information, the CBI investigation at the Chief Minister’s camp office continued until around 11:15 am.
 

The CBI action follows the High Court’s directions to investigate allegations of an alleged financial transaction in government transfers and postings, the formulation of favourable policies and bribery in tenders. The court had directed the agency to register an FIR, begin the investigation immediately and submit a report within two months. The next hearing in the matter is scheduled for December 7.
 

CBI teams also conducted searches at the Chief Minister’s Sector 2 camp office, Rajbir Singh Ghuman’s residence in Gharachon village and a private residence in Phase 11, Mohali. The private residence was reportedly linked to a close relative of Ghuman.
 

The raids triggered a political reaction in Punjab. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said in a post on X that the BJP had started preparing for the Punjab elections and alleged that the CBI raid at his camp office was an attempt to misuse central investigative agencies to defame the Punjab government and him.
 

Mann also alleged that the BJP was worried over the public support being received by him.
 

The High Court had transferred the probe into the allegations to the CBI after considering information shared by the Enforcement Directorate under Section 66(2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The court also directed the Punjab Police to extend full cooperation to the CBI to ensure an impartial investigation.
 

The court rejected the Punjab government’s application questioning the petitioner Nikhil Saraf’s eligibility. In its decision, the court termed the state government’s action to demolish Saraf’s private property as retaliatory. It also observed that the Punjab Bureau of Investigation had kept the matter pending in the name of a preliminary inquiry, which the court said was done with the intention of tampering with evidence and protecting the accused.
 

Meanwhile, the Punjab government has decided to approach the Supreme Court against the High Court order. Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said after a Punjab Cabinet meeting in Chandigarh that previous governments in the state had already restricted direct intervention by the CBI. He said the state government would rely on that position while challenging the CBI investigation before the Supreme Court.
 

CBI Raid at OSD Rajbir Singh Ghuman’s Gharachon Residence
 

A CBI team also raided the residence of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s OSD Rajbir Singh Ghuman in Gharachon village near Bhawanigarh on Tuesday evening.
 

The search followed the registration of the case after the High Court handed over the matter concerning the Chief Minister’s office to the CBI. The investigation at Ghuman’s residence continued for around two hours.
 

Journalists waiting outside the house were not given any information until 8:25 pm. Bhawanigarh DSP Satnam Singh only confirmed that the raid was underway. Around five to six CBI officials were present at the location.
 

CBI Searches OSD Romi Raja Mahajan’s Gurdaspur Residence
 

A CBI team also conducted a search at the residence of Chief Minister’s OSD Dr Romi Raja Mahajan in Rulia Ram Colony, Gurdaspur, late Tuesday evening.
 

Dr Romi Raja Mahajan is among the six individuals named in the case registered by the CBI. He has reportedly been living in Chandigarh with his family for some time. There was no report of anyone being taken into custody during the search.
 

The High Court has directed the CBI to register an FIR against the accused, begin the investigation and submit its report within two months.
 

Dr Romi Raja Mahajan had previously served as Deputy Medical Commissioner at Gurdaspur Civil Hospital. He later took voluntary retirement before completing his service and held a retirement party at a large resort in Dinnanagar, which was attended by several political figures.