Punjab govt moves Supreme Court against HC order for CBI probe into ED allegations

According to details available on the Supreme Court’s official website, the state government, through its Home Department, has filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) against the High Court order. The petition has been registered as Diary No. 62464/2026 and is currently pending before the apex court.

The SLP was filed in the early hours of Tuesday, October 6, a day after the High Court directed the CBI to take over the matter arising from three communications sent by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav.

The High Court had directed the CBI to register a case based on the allegations and submit a status report within two months. It also instructed the Punjab government and police to provide full cooperation to the central agency during the investigation.

The ED, in its three letters to the Punjab DGP, had alleged that Mann’s OSD Rajvir Ghuman, along with Nitin Gohal and Bir Devinder, was involved in activities related to alleged corruption. According to the agency, the individuals were allegedly attempting to influence administrative transfers and postings as well as government tender processes.

The ED had called for an FIR to be registered in connection with the allegations.

The Punjab Police, however, did not register a case following the ED communications. Subsequently, advocate Nikhil Saraf approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court through a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), seeking a CBI investigation into the matter.

Saraf argued before the High Court that the allegations contained in the ED communications were serious in nature and involved individuals allegedly connected with the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office. He sought an independent investigation, arguing that the probe should be kept outside the jurisdiction of the Punjab Police and Punjab Vigilance.

The PIL also sought an investigation into the alleged money trail and appropriate legal action against anyone found responsible following the probe.

While ordering the CBI investigation, the High Court fixed a two-month deadline for the agency to submit its status report. It further directed the Punjab government and police authorities to hand over relevant records and extend necessary assistance to the CBI.

The High Court order has also drawn a political response from the BJP in Punjab.

Punjab BJP President Kewal Singh Dhillon welcomed the decision to hand the matter over to the CBI and criticised the Mann government over the allegations.

Speaking to reporters in Chandigarh on Monday, Dhillon questioned the state government’s handling of the ED communications and alleged that the development contradicted the government’s stated position on corruption.

Dhillon called for Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s resignation, alleging that the government had lost the moral authority to continue in office.

He also pointed to the three communications sent by the ED to the Punjab DGP and questioned why an FIR had not been registered before the matter reached the High Court through the PIL.

The BJP leader said he expected the CBI investigation to be conducted independently and transparently. He also urged the Punjab government and police to provide the agency with all relevant documents and cooperate with the investigation within the two-month timeline set by the High Court.

The allegations against the individuals named in the ED communications remain subject to investigation and have not been established in court.