Ahead of a scheduled hearing on September 3, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a detailed reply before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, placing on record a series of letters, reports, reminders and supporting documents sent to Punjab authorities over alleged corruption in government transfers, postings and other dealings.
The latest developments began after Punjab Police responded to the ED. The police sought further information, which the ED noted is generally required for investigation after registration of an FIR. The ED’s reply comes after the court, on August 27, directed its counsel to place on record the communications allegedly sent to the Punjab Director General of Police (DGP). A letter dated August 28 from the AIG (Investigation), Punjab Bureau of Investigation, was received by the ED by email on August 29 and by hand on August 30.
The direction came while hearing a petition filed by a advocate Nikhil Saraf alleging the involvement of senior state officers in various alleged scams, including “cash for transfers”, “cash for getting favourable policies”, “cash for tenders” and other illegal activities. The ED’s communications relate to allegations of an organised “racket of transfers and postings” in Punjab.
In an earlier communication to the Punjab Police, the agency had sought registration of an FIR against private individual Nitin Gohal and others, alleging that they had used their influence to interfere with government functioning.
Rajbir Singh Ghuman, an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, was allegedly leading the racket involving transfers and postings of officials, including IAS and IPS officers, according to the ED’s main allegations.
The ED has now requested the High Court to take its letters, reminders and information emails on record and issue necessary directions for a “free, fair and impartial investigation” in the matter.
