Ghuman Skips CBI Summons Again; High Court Judge Refers His Plea to Chief Justiceਘੁੰਮਣ ਮੁੜ ਸੀਬੀਆਈ ਸਾਹਮਣੇ ਨਹੀਂ ਆਏ; ਹਾਈ ਕੋਰਟ ਜੱਜ ਨੇ ਪਟੀਸ਼ਨ ਚੀਫ਼ ਜਸਟਿਸ ਕੋਲ ਭੇਜੀ

Rajbir Singh Ghuman, Officer on Special Duty to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, again stayed away from the CBI's Chandigarh office on Friday, October 9, but is learnt to have sent a legal reply, according to The Tribune. Hours earlier, a High Court judge declined to hear his plea to quash the CBI's FIR.

What happened with the CBI summons?

The CBI had summoned Ghuman to its Sector 30 office at 3 pm. The Tribune reports that CHASPA notices were pasted on the walls and gates of the accused persons' residences, including Ghuman's home in Gharachon village, Sangrur, and that a senior officer confirmed notices were also served at the Chief Minister's camp office in Sector 2. India Today reports that the agency also sent the summons by email after Ghuman did not appear. Other persons named in the FIR were also asked to join the probe and reportedly stayed away.

Why did he skip it earlier?

Ghuman did not appear on Wednesday either. Officials in the Chief Minister's Office had said he had not received that summons. On Thursday, Mann said his OSD would join the investigation if the notices were properly served, and denied any wrongdoing in the functioning of his office.

What did the High Court do on Ghuman's plea?

On Friday, Justice Jasjit Singh Bedi of the Punjab and Haryana High Court directed that Ghuman's petition be placed before the Chief Justice. Justice Bedi observed that a Division Bench of Chief Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Rohit Kapoor had ordered registration of the FIR on October 5 and that the order is under challenge before the Supreme Court, so "propriety demands" that his court refrain from deciding the matter, as reported by The Tribune.

What is Ghuman's legal argument?

His petition says the CBI searched his Sangrur residence on October 6 without the prior sanction required under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act. It argues that no proposal under Section 17A was moved to the Punjab government. The CBI has not publicly responded to that argument in the reports reviewed.

What is the CBI case about?

The CBI registered a 251-page FIR on the High Court's direction against Ghuman and five others, including Nitin Gohal, Jitin Gohal, Romi Raja Mahajan, Rajdeep Singh Nagra and Bir Devinder Singh. It concerns alleged payments for postings, favourable policy decisions and tenders. These are allegations; no court has found anyone guilty. The Punjab government's challenge to the High Court order is pending in the Supreme Court, where Justice Sheel Nagu recused himself and the Chief Justice of India is to form a fresh bench.

Has Ghuman appeared before the CBI?

No. He skipped both the Wednesday and Friday summons, though he is learnt to have sent a legal reply.

What happens next with his High Court petition?

It will be placed before Chief Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra for appropriate orders, as directed on Friday.

Is the CBI case proven?

No. The FIR contains allegations that are under investigation, and Ghuman has challenged the probe in court.