“Nothing can be worse”: Pargat Singh on CBI raid at CM Mann’s camp office
Punjab Congress chief Pargat Singh criticizes AAP as CBI raids Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's camp office over corruption allegations.
The political temperature in Punjab has reached a boiling point following a high-profile Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raid at the camp office of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in Chandigarh. Reacting to the development, Punjab Congress chief Pargat Singh on Wednesday issued a scathing critique, stating that the state's political situation has deteriorated to a point where central agencies are conducting searches at the Chief Minister's own office.
AAP's Lokpal Promise Under Scrutiny
Pargat Singh highlighted the irony in the current administration's predicament, noting that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ascended to power on a platform centered around the promise of a Lokpal to ensure transparency. However, he suggested that the recent investigative actions tell a different story about the state's governance.
"AAP came to power on the promise of a Lokpal, but today the situation is such that raids have been carried out at the CM's office. Nothing can be worse than this," Singh remarked during a conversation with ANI.
Details of the CBI Investigation
The CBI's move follows the registration of an FIR against Rajbir Singh Ghuman, an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Chief Minister Mann, along with five other individuals. The agency conducted searches at eight different locations, including the Chief Minister's camp office.
According to the agency, the investigation is centered on allegations of corruption involving the manipulation of several administrative processes, including:
- Influencing or manipulating official postings
- Departmental proceedings and policy formulation
- Administrative approvals and tender conditions
- Licensing and land-related matters in exchange for alleged pecuniary benefits
High Court Intervention Triggers Probe
The investigation was not initiated by the state authorities but was prompted by a directive from the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The Court ordered the CBI to register a case and investigate after a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed by advocate Nikhil Saraf. The petition alleged that the Punjab Police had failed to act on specific allegations previously flagged by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
Opposition Targets Mann and Kejriwal
The Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, Partap Singh Bajwa, also joined the fray, holding Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal directly accountable for the ongoing crisis. Bajwa suggested that the leadership could have avoided this scrutiny had they taken proactive steps when the ED first raised concerns.
"If they had registered an FIR against these individuals themselves—or even arrested a few of them—they could have saved themselves," Bajwa stated, noting that the ED had previously sent four letters to the Director General regarding the matter.
Bajwa further emphasized the gravity of the allegations, mentioning serious charges involving massive sums of money related to land, Gram Panchayats, transfers, and the awarding of government contracts. He asserted that the investigation must determine the truth behind accusations involving the Chief Minister's Office and Mann's immediate family.