Supreme Court Refuses to Stay CBI Probe Against Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann's OSD; Grants Interim Relief From Arrest

New Delhi:

The Supreme Court of India on Monday declined to stay the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe and FIR against Rajbir Singh Ghuman, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, in connection with alleged corruption, tender manipulation, and transfer-posting irregularities in the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).

However, the apex court provided partial relief by directing that no coercive steps or arrests be made against the accused while the investigation proceeds. The bench also issued a formal notice to the CBI regarding the Punjab government's petition.

High Court Directive Challenged

The Punjab government had moved the Supreme Court challenging an earlier order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which transferred the investigation to the CBI and directed the agency to submit a status report within two months. Following that order, the CBI registered an FIR and conducted searches at multiple locations, including the Chief Minister’s camp office in Chandigarh.

Advocate Bhupinder Nagpal confirmed the development, stating:

"The Punjab government had sought an interim stay on the CBI investigation. The Supreme Court refused to stay the probe or quash the FIR. It clarified that while the investigation will continue, no arrests will be made at this stage."

Origins of the Case: ED Findings and DGP Letters

The controversy originated from an Enforcement Directorate (ED) money laundering probe linked to the ₹348-crore Suntec City project. During search operations in May 2026 targeting figures such as Nitin Gohl, real estate businessman Ajay Sehgal, Suresh Kumar Bajaj, and others, investigators recovered digital evidence, WhatsApp chats, call records, and approximately ₹1 crore in cash.

The ED alleged that intermediaries were running an organized racket within government channels to influence administrative decisions, change of land use (CLU) clearances, Markfed tenders, and bureaucratic transfers and postings. OSD Rajbir Singh Ghuman's name surfaced in communications referencing these administrative maneuvers.

Despite multiple letters sent by the ED to Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav in July and August 2026 requesting a formal FIR, the state police sought internal legal opinions instead. Consequently, the ED approached the High Court, prompting the judicial order directing a CBI probe under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, cheating, and criminal conspiracy.

Jurisdiction and the General Consent Factor

While the Punjab government withdrew general consent for the CBI in November 2020 under Section 6 of the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, judicial precedent establishes that statutory consent is not required when an investigation is explicitly ordered by the High Court or the Supreme Court. The High Court had directed state authorities to extend full cooperation to federal investigators.