New Delhi: A major political development has emerged in Punjab after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) submitted a detailed report to the Punjab and Haryana High Court alleging that its investigation into corruption has reached the office of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
The matter is scheduled to come up for hearing before the High Court on September 3. According to the ED, alleged corrupt activities were being operated through intermediaries linked to the Chief Minister’s Office.
The agency has submitted a 200-page report along with supporting evidence and has alleged that the Punjab Police did not cooperate with the investigation.
CM’s OSD Rajbir Singh Ghumman Named in Report
The ED report names Rajbir Singh Ghumman, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, in connection with the allegations.
According to the agency, financial transactions allegedly involving the Chief Minister’s Office also came to light during the investigation.
The ED has alleged that the Punjab Police did not register an FIR against Nitin Goyal, Jitin Goyal, Rajbir Singh Ghumman, Bir Devinder, Romi Raja Mahajan and others, despite receiving three letters from the agency.
The ED has accused the individuals of allegedly entering into a criminal conspiracy for personal gain, accepting bribes in exchange for transfers and postings, and leaking confidential government information.
ED Had Sought FIR Since July 30
According to the report, the ED had been asking the Punjab Police since July 30 to register a confidential FIR and provide a copy of it to the agency.
After the alleged lack of action by the Punjab Police, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
The ED report alleges that its investigation uncovered possible interference in government transfers and postings, tender allotments, Change of Land Use (CLU) permissions for builders, policy-related conditions, arms licences and financial transactions.
ED Searches Conducted in Punjab in May
The ED conducted searches between May 7 and May 10, 2026, at premises linked to Ajay Sehgal, Nitin Goyal, Suresh Kumar Bajaj and others in Punjab.
According to the ED, during one of the searches, a bag containing cash was allegedly thrown from the balcony of Nitin Goyal’s residence. The agency claimed that the bag contained Rs 21 lakh.
The report describes Nitin Goyal as a friend of CM OSD Rajbir Singh Ghumman. The ED claims that WhatsApp chats and documents recovered from Goyal’s mobile phone revealed alleged links to corruption within the Punjab CM’s Office.
The agency has also submitted WhatsApp chat transcripts, screenshots and other digital evidence before the High Court.
Alleged Interference in Transfers and Postings
The ED report lists 21 instances allegedly involving government transfers and postings.
According to the agency, WhatsApp chats, call records, documents and conversations recovered from Nitin Goyal’s devices allegedly indicate his involvement in transfer and posting matters across several government departments.
The ED claims that Goyal allegedly acted as an intermediary between officials seeking transfers and Rajbir Singh Ghumman. He allegedly obtained draft orders and worked to facilitate the posting of people he favoured.
The chats reportedly include discussions about proposed transfers, preferred postings, movement of officials and departmental changes. The agency also alleges that confidential information related to transfers was shared before it became public.
Allegations of Payments and Kickbacks
The report refers to 11 instances involving alleged payments, kickbacks and other benefits in exchange for government-related work.
According to the ED, digital evidence and recovered chats allegedly indicate that Nitin Goyal and his associates accepted money, arranged payments, facilitated financial transactions, booked travel and provided other benefits in connection with transfer and posting matters, land transactions, policy-related work and other government benefits.
The agency alleges that the evidence points towards an organised system in which access to and influence over government officials was allegedly used for financial gain.
Arms Licence and Confidential Information Allegations
The ED report also refers to 18 instances involving alleged land deals, policy matters, unauthorised access to confidential government information and its alleged leakage.
According to the agency, Nitin Goyal and his associates allegedly possessed confidential information concerning transfer proposals, posting orders, policy documents, administrative approvals and other internal government communications before such information became public.
The report suggests the possibility of unauthorised access to official records and alleged leakage of sensitive government information.
The investigation also reportedly uncovered conversations and contacts related to arms licence matters, including recommendations, approvals, renewals and related procedures.
According to the ED’s allegations, Nitin Goyal allegedly facilitated and coordinated some of these matters through individuals holding official positions or influence within the government system.
What Happens Next?
The allegations contained in the ED report are now before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which is scheduled to hear the matter on September 3.
The allegations remain subject to judicial scrutiny, and the claims made in the ED report do not by themselves establish guilt. The response of the Punjab government, Punjab Police and the individuals named in the report will be significant as the case progresses.