Archive · 2 Sep 2026
Punjab Police, ED Clash Over Alleged Transfer-Posting Network
The Enforcement Directorate is investigating whether people used personal connections to influence government decisions in Punjab.
Investigators found messages on a private businessman’s phone about transfers, postings, licences and other official matters.
The businessman, Nitin Gohal, did not hold a government job.
Some of the messages reportedly involved Rajbir Singh Ghuman, an officer linked to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s office.
The ED says the information is serious enough for Punjab Police to register a criminal case.
Punjab Police says it needs clearer evidence and the original electronic records first.
The two agencies disagree about whether the material already provided is sufficient.
Mann and Gohal deny wrongdoing and say the allegations are politically motivated.
Investigators still need to determine whether any government decisions followed the requests and whether money or other benefits were exchanged.
The Enforcement Directorate has alleged an influence network involving government transfers, postings and other official matters in Punjab.
Punjab Police has summoned an ED officer to appear on September 3 with the complete case file and supporting documents.
The ED says it supplied enough material to register an FIR, while Punjab Police says it needs clearer records and source information.
The investigation reportedly covers 61 suspected irregularities, including 21 transfer-related cases, seven land matters and seven arms-licence cases.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and businessman Nitin Gohal have denied wrongdoing, while the allegations remain under investigation and judicial scrutiny.
- Who
- The Enforcement Directorate, Punjab Police, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, businessman Nitin Gohal and Rajbir Singh Ghuman are central to the reported dispute and investigation.
- What
- The ED alleges an influence network involving transfers, postings, licences, land matters and other government decisions, while Punjab Police is seeking the underlying case material before deciding whether to register an FIR.
- When
- Punjab Police asked the ED officer to appear at 3 p.m. on September 3, after an earlier summons for September 1 was not followed. The ED searches occurred from May 7 to May 10.
- Where
- The alleged activity concerns Punjab, and the institutional dispute is also before the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
- Why
- The ED wants Punjab Police to register an FIR based on material it says indicates cognisable offences; Punjab Police says it needs complete, legible and verifiable records, including electronic-source information.
Enforcement Directorate’s Position
Punjab Police and Punjab Government’s Position
Whether an FIR should be registered
Enforcement Directorate’s Position
The ED says the material already shared under Section 66(2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act discloses a cognisable offence and is sufficient for registration of an FIR.
Punjab Police and Punjab Government’s Position
Punjab Police says it needs complete, clearly readable and verifiable records before deciding how to proceed.
Reliability and completeness of electronic evidence
Enforcement Directorate’s Position
The ED says it provided legible chats and screenshots with electronic-record certification and argues that source data or a complete chain of custody should not be a precondition for registering an FIR.
Punjab Police and Punjab Government’s Position
Punjab Police and Cabinet Minister Aman Arora have questioned whether the supplied material clearly identifies the sender, recipient, timing and source of each message, and have sought original electronic data and chain-of-custody information.
Political interpretation of the allegations
Enforcement Directorate’s Position
The ED is examining whether requests sent to private businessman Nitin Gohal indicate an informal channel into government decision-making; the BJP has described the matter as an alleged cash-for-transfer system.
Punjab Police and Punjab Government’s Position
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has rejected the allegations as baseless and politically motivated, while Gohal has denied wrongdoing. They say the public material does not establish Mann’s personal involvement or receipt of money.
- Suspected irregularities
- 61 cases cited by the ED, including 21 transfer-related instances.
- Reported alleged payments
- ₹89.55 lakh across 11 alleged payment, kickback or benefit instances, apart from alleged hawala transactions.
- Cash recovered
- About ₹20.98 lakh was reportedly recovered during ED searches from May 7 to May 10.
- Investigation material
- The ED submitted a nearly 200-page response reportedly containing more than 150 pages of purported WhatsApp conversations.
- Other reported cases
- The material reportedly includes seven land and real-estate matters and seven arms-licence issuance or renewal cases.
- Legal provision cited
- The ED says it shared information with Punjab Police under Section 66(2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
- Next summons date
- The concerned ED officer was asked to appear at Punjab Police headquarters at 3 p.m. on September 3 with the case file and supporting documents.