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The Supreme Court on Monday ordered that no coercive steps be taken in the CBI FIR registered in connection with corruption allegations linked to the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

A bench of Justice MM Sundresh and Justice Prasanna B Varale issued notice on the petition filed by the Punjab government challenging the High Court's direction to register an FIR in the matter. However, the Court refused to stay the FIR and directed that no coercive steps be taken in the case. The bench further observed that the State must cooperate with the investigation.

Senior Advocate Vikas Singh appeared for the State. Senior Advocate Dama Seshadri Naidu, appearing on behalf of the respondent (PIL petitioner in the High Court), submitted that the respondent was facing vindictive action from the State Government, and that his property was demolished. The respondent also required protection from State harassment, Naidu urged.

The matter was placed before this bench after Justice Sheel Nagu (who was sitting along with Justice Dipankar Datta) recused.

The CBI FIR concerns alleged corruption and influence-peddling involving Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's Office on Special Duty (OSD), Rajbir Singh Ghuman, and five other named accused. The case relates to alleged bribes paid to influence government transfers and postings, tenders, policy decisions, licensing and land-related matters. The CBI registered the FIR on October 5, 2026, following a direction from the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

A High Court bench comprising Chief Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Rohit Kapoor had on Monday directed the CBI to register a criminal case into allegations concerning Rajbir Singh Ghuman, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann. It further directed the State of Punjab and the Punjab Police to provide the CBI with all assistance to conduct a fair investigation.

The directions were passed while hearing a Public Interest Litigation filed by advocate Nikhil Saraf. The PIL alleged that the Punjab Police had failed to take appropriate action despite communications from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) seeking a probe into allegations against Ghuman. According to the submissions before the High Court, the ED had flagged allegations involving one Nitin Gohal, who allegedly acted as an intermediary for persons seeking various favours from the Punjab government.
The allegations relate, among other things, to facilitating transfers, providing access to confidential government documents, facilitating arms licences and securing other benefits. The High Court, after considering the material placed before it, directed the CBI to register a criminal case and investigate the allegations. The Punjab government's challenge before the Supreme Court seeks to overturn the High Court's direction for a CBI investigation.


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Case Title :  State of Punjab v Nikhil SarafCITATION :  Diary No. 62464/2026