PHHC Orders CBI to Probe CM Aides; Panjab Goes to SCI

October

2026

The Punjab and Haryana High Court (PHHC) has ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to register a First Information Report (FIR) and investigate allegations of corruption against officials and private individuals operating around the Panjab Chief Minister’s Office. The 5 Oct order was in a case filed as a Public Interest Litigation by PHHC advocate Nikhil Saraf. Saraf contended that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had investigated allegations of corruption by Nitin Gohal, who acted as an intermediary between people seeking government favors and the Officer on Special Duty to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Rajbir Singh Ghuman. PHHC has ordered the CBI to submit a report within two months, with the next hearing on 7 Dec. The allegations involve transfers and postings of officials, access to confidential government documents, government tenders, policy decisions, arms licenses, land-related approvals, and other official favors. Despite the ED providing adequate evidence to the Panjab Police to register an FIR, the police had not acted. In response, the Panjab government has moved the Supreme Court of India (SCI), challenging the PHHC order. Meanwhile, Panjab Indian National Congress chief Pargat Singh alleged systemic corruption in the state administration and warned officials against aligning with the government after the PHHC’s ordered the matter transferred to the CBI. Panjab Bharatiya Janta Party chief Kewal Singh Dhillon said the PHHC’s decision to order a CBI probe into allegations of corruption linked to the Panjab Chief Minister's Office has 'exposed the reality of a govt that claims to follow a ‘zero-tolerance’ policy towards corruption'. Dhillon demanded CM Mann’s resignation, saying 'the government has lost the moral right to remain in power'. Additionally, the PHHC pulled up the Panjab government for 'attempting to buy time' by not pursuing an appeal against its 3 Aug order directing payment of pending Dearness Allowance dues to state government employees and pensioners within a fortnight, and sought an immediate status report from the SCI. Furthermore, the recruitment for 331 Punjab Civil Services posts announced in January 2025 has turned into a nearly 22-month wait for aspirants, with the selection process still underway. In July, the Punjab Public Service Commission issued a public notice saying it would declare the Mains results by the end of September. However, the timeline has now been pushed to 10 Nov (earlier coverage).