Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday said his Officer on Special Duty (OSD), Rajbir Singh Ghuman, was ready to cooperate with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) if he received a summons through the proper channel. Mann said Ghuman was prepared to appear before the agency and had no intention of avoiding the investigation. The statement came amid a corruption case registered against Ghuman and five others.

Mann said Ghuman had not been formally served the summons and therefore did not appear before the CBI when the agency sought his presence for questioning. The CBI has registered a case against Ghuman and others and conducted searches at several locations, including the Punjab Chief Minister's camp office in Chandigarh. The investigation follows directions issued by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

The case concerns allegations of corruption and influence-peddling involving matters such as government postings, administrative decisions, policy formulation, tenders and other official approvals. A 251-page FIR filed by the CBI names Ghuman and five other accused, besides referring to unidentified public servants and private individuals. The FIR records 61 instances of alleged wrongdoing that had been flagged by the Enforcement Directorate.

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The Punjab and Haryana High Court had directed the CBI to register a criminal case after considering material submitted by the Enforcement Directorate during its investigation. The ED had alleged that intermediaries connected to Ghuman were involved in attempts to influence transfers and postings and obtain favourable decisions in government-related matters. These remain allegations under investigation and have not been established as facts by a final court ruling.

Mann also criticised the timing of the CBI action, alleging that the raids were linked to the BJP's preparations for the Punjab Assembly elections. He accused central agencies of targeting opposition-ruled governments, while asserting that his government had nothing to hide. Mann said his administration had taken steps to bring government systems online as part of efforts to improve transparency and curb corruption.

The political dispute is unfolding alongside legal proceedings over the CBI investigation. The Punjab government has challenged the High Court's direction before the Supreme Court, which has agreed to hear the matter. Meanwhile, the CBI investigation against Ghuman and the other accused remains ongoing, with further proceedings expected as the agency examines the allegations and evidence collected during its searches.

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