Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann’s officer on special duty (OSD) Rajbir Singh Ghuman appeared before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday in connecting with the corruption case involving allegations of influencing government decisions.
The agency alleges that Nitin Gohal acted as an intermediary between individuals seeking government favours and Ghuman. Records concerning Ghuman’s appointment as OSD, other CMO-linked appointments, a Zirakpur housing project, pollution clearances, foodgrain transportation policy and recruitment decisions have also been sought. Punjab’s personnel department has directed departments to provide records and IAS officer Gautam Jain has been designated as nodal officer for coordination with the CBI.
As part of the probe, the CBI on October 14 sought original files from 15 Punjab government departments, including records of transfers and postings involving IAS, PCS, police and other officers.
The network allegedly collected crores in cash and real estate in exchange for influencing IAS/IPS postings, policy and administrative decisions, leaking confidential government files, facilitating arms licences, and clearing commercial projects, according to the CBI FIR.
