Punjab Government to Move Supreme Court Against HC's CBI Probe Orderਪੰਜਾਬ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਸੀਬੀਆਈ ਜਾਂਚ ਹੁਕਮ ਖਿਲਾਫ ਸੁਪਰੀਮ ਕੋਰਟ ਜਾਵੇਗੀ

The Punjab government will approach the Supreme Court to challenge the Punjab and Haryana High Court order directing the Central Bureau of Investigation to probe alleged corruption linked to the Chief Minister's Office, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema announced on Monday. The decision, cleared by the state cabinet, sets up a fresh legal battle over one of the most politically charged cases in the state.

What the High Court ordered

On Monday, the High Court directed the CBI to register a criminal case and investigate allegations raised by the Enforcement Directorate, which had sent three letters to Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav seeking an FIR against Rajbir Singh Ghuman — an Officer on Special Duty to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann — and others. The state police took no action on the letters, prompting a public interest litigation by Advocate Nikhil Saraf that led to the court's order.

The alleged scam centres on claims of corruption in transfer postings, change-of-land-use approvals and arms licences, and traces back to earlier raids on builders in Mohali where cash was recovered. The court asked the CBI to file an investigation report within two months and directed the Punjab Police to assist with documents.

Why Punjab is going to the Supreme Court

Announcing the challenge, Cheema said the government would cite the state's withdrawal of general consent for CBI investigations in 2020 — a legal shield Punjab, like several other opposition-ruled states, invoked to bar the agency from probing cases in its territory without permission. The government maintains the High Court's direction cannot override that position, a question the Supreme Court will now have to settle.

The cabinet also took other decisions at the same meeting, including approving the Ranjitgarh Development Authority to promote tourism around Ranjit Sagar Dam in Pathankot — a move the government framed as part of its development push in the border belt.

Will the Punjab government challenge the CBI probe order?

Yes. Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema announced on Monday that the state cabinet has cleared a move to the Supreme Court against the Punjab and Haryana High Court's order directing a CBI probe into the ED letters case.

What are the ED letters about?

The Enforcement Directorate sent three letters to the Punjab DGP seeking an FIR against Rajbir Singh Ghuman, OSD to CM Bhagwant Mann, and others over alleged corruption in transfer postings, land-use approvals and arms licences. The state police did not act on them, leading to the PIL and the High Court's order.