The CBI, acting on a Punjab and Haryana High Court order, registered an FIR against Rajbir Ghuman—Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s Officer on Special Duty—alongside six other alleged conspirators, following searches at eight sites including the CM’s camp office.
The allegations span manipulation of IAS and IPS postings, tender approvals, CLU changes, and land‑use decisions, with reports that public servants leaked draft orders to private parties in exchange for money.
The ED’s parallel probe, launched after a Punjab Police complaint, uncovered forged consent letters over 30.5 acres for the Suntec City project and a cash dump of ₹21 lakh linked to businessman Nitin Gohel.
Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann blasted the raids as a political ploy ahead of state elections, claiming that the BJP is using the ED and CBI to tarnish his administration’s reputation.
A local farmer in Chandigarh, whose land was reclassified under the disputed CLU, says he has lost over ₹10 lakh in potential sale value due to the alleged irregularities.
The CBI will now bring all accused before a court on June 15, where prosecutors will argue the case and the government may counter with evidence of lawful procedures.