Chandigarh: A day after Supreme Court ordered CBI to hold off on coercive measures in the case registered against Rajbir Singh Ghuman, OSD to Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, till the next hearing on Jan 21, 2027, Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a case against him in Jalandhar on Tuesday.The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) slammed the central agency, asking why ED was in such a hurry.“When the apex court has stated that no coercive action can be taken, and the matter is pending in court, what was the urgency for ED to register an enforcement case information report (ECIR) in the matter? This is politically motivated to tarnish the image of the Mann govt,” an AAP spokesperson said.On Monday, SC had refused to stay the FIR or halt the investigation but shielded the case from coercive CBI action. It also directed Punjab govt to cooperate with the probe.The case pertains to ED’s allegations that individuals linked to the chief minister’s office (CMO), with the support of other individuals, used political clout to influence govt transfers and postings, secure favourable policy decisions, award tenders, access confidential state documents and issue arms licences, in lieu of cash or personal benefits.ED had asked Punjab Police to register an FIR on the basis of its communications, but it wasn’t done, leading to a PIL in Punjab and Haryana high court for an independent inquiry. On Oct 5, 2026, HC ordered a CBI probe and asked for the report in two months.Following HC’s orders, CBI filed an FIR naming Rajbir Ghuman and five others — brothers Nitin and Jitin Gohal, Romi Raja Mahajan, Bir Devinder, and RS Nagra, as well as unnamed public servants and private individuals. Ghuman moved SC, seeking to have the FIR quashed.
