2 hrs ago
Supreme Court Defers Punjab Plea Against CBI Corruption Probe
The Punjab government asked India’s Supreme Court to pause an order for the CBI to investigate corruption allegations.
The allegations involve Rajvir Ghuman, an aide to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, and others.
The Supreme Court did not decide whether to pause the investigation.
The judges said they had not had enough time to read the case papers.
The government asked for temporary protection while it waits, but the court did not grant it.
The hearing is scheduled to continue on Friday.
The CBI has already opened a case, searched several places and called people in for questioning.
Punjab says the High Court’s order did not follow important legal rules.
The original petition argued that an independent investigation was needed because the state police had not registered a case.
The Supreme Court postponed until Friday Punjab’s request to stay a High Court-ordered CBI investigation.
Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu said the case file had arrived too late for both judges to review it.
The Punjab government sought interim protection but received no immediate order preventing investigative steps.
The CBI has registered an FIR, searched eight locations in Chandigarh and Punjab, and summoned Rajvir Ghuman and associates.
Punjab argues the High Court’s order conflicts with legal safeguards; the original petition sought an independent probe after the state police did not register a case.
- Who
- The Punjab government; the Supreme Court bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu; and the CBI.
- What
- The Supreme Court adjourned Punjab’s plea seeking a stay of the High Court’s direction for a CBI probe into corruption allegations.
- Where
- The Supreme Court in New Delhi; the investigation concerns alleged conduct in Punjab and Chandigarh.
- When
- The hearing was adjourned on Thursday and listed for Friday.
- Why
- The judges said the case file arrived too late for both judges to review it before the hearing.
Punjab Government
Petitioner and High Court
Whether the CBI should investigate
Punjab Government
Punjab challenged the direction for a CBI probe, arguing that it breached legal safeguards and that the state’s own Bureau of Investigation could instead conduct a preliminary inquiry and report to the Supreme Court.
Petitioner and High Court
The petition sought a fair, independent investigation, arguing that the allegations were serious and that Punjab Police had not acted on the Enforcement Directorate’s communications. The High Court directed the CBI to investigate.
Legal basis for the investigation
Punjab Government
Punjab argued that the High Court wrongly treated information shared under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act as making FIR registration inevitable, and that prior approval under the Prevention of Corruption Act was required for inquiries into certain public-servant decisions.
Petitioner and High Court
The High Court ordered the CBI to register a case, directed the state to cooperate and hand over relevant documents, and required a status report within two months.
Key facts
- Next hearing
- Friday
- Supreme Court bench
- Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu
- High Court order
- The Punjab and Haryana High Court directed the CBI to investigate and submit a status report within two months.
- Allegations
- The Enforcement Directorate alleged interference in transfers, postings and government tenders; the petition also referred to cash for transfers and favourable policies.
- CBI actions reported
- The CBI registered an FIR, searched eight locations across Chandigarh and Punjab, and summoned Ghuman and associates.
- Punjab’s request
- The state sought a stay and interim protection, arguing that the High Court’s decision conflicted with statutory safeguards.
- Original petition
- Advocate Nikhil Saraf sought a CBI investigation after Punjab Police did not register a case based on the ED communications.
Quotes
Justice Dipankar Datta
Supreme Court judge who spoke during the hearing.
“We will have it tomorrow. The file hadn’t reached my brother judge (Justice Nagu).”
theprint.in
“When we haven't read the file, how can we?”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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