Chandigarh : The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered a CBI probe into allegations of corruption involving Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s office and private persons. The ED had written three letters to the senior cop alleging widespread corruption in government transfers and postings, Change of Land Use (CLU) matters and other dealings in Punjab.
The allegations had emerged during an ED investigation into a money laundering case involving a housing society and alleged irregularities in obtaining CLU permission. The agency had alleged that fake consent letters were used in the process and had flagged the alleged role of people connected to the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office.
The ED had also said that a network of private individuals was involved in influencing government processes, including transfers and postings. The agency sought police action against the persons named in its letters. However, when the state police did not take action on the agency’s letters, advocate Nikhil Saraf filed a Public Interest Litigation in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
CM Mann called the ED letter to DGP Yadav the BJP’s handiwork, saying the agency’s allegations were untrue and that he did not need a certificate of honesty “from people who looted” the state. “This is what they do. They make up cases. There is no truth in it. The Opposition is not finding any issues to raise. They are just pointing fingers. I do not need a certificate of honesty from people who have looted Punjab,” Mann said, as he accused the BJP of misusing central agencies to defame, threaten and suppress its political opponents.
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