CBI raids Punjab CM's aide's premises in alleged misconduct case

The Central Bureau of Investigation on Tuesday conducted searches at premises associated with Rajbir Ghuman, who serves as a special duty officer to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. The CBI registered an FIR as part of its investigation, according to officials familiar with the development.

Chief Minister Mann responded to the CBI action by levelling allegations against the Bharatiya Janata Party, accusing the national ruling party of misusing federal investigative agencies for political purposes. Mann claimed the raids were part of a coordinated campaign to target him ahead of upcoming electoral contests.

"The BJP is panicking," Mann said in a statement, asserting that such moves reflected the opposition's anxiety over his government's performance. He alleged that the party was attempting to deploy central agencies against his administration to weaken its political standing.

The specific charges against Ghuman and details of the CBI's investigation were not immediately disclosed. The agency's action marks the latest in a series of federal-level investigations touching Punjab's political establishment in recent months.