BJP, SAD seek independent probe into corruption allegations against Punjab CM

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Chandigarh, September 3
The BJP and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) separately demanded an independent investigation on Thursday into allegations that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and his wife were allegedly involved in suppressing a rape case and protecting the accused in connection with an alleged ₹5 crore bribe.

The BJP’s national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari, speaking at a press conference in New Delhi, alleged that Mann was facing serious accusations and claimed that middlemen were allegedly used to settle a rape case in exchange for ₹5 crore.

Referring to a video, Bhandari alleged that it raised questions about whether the Chief Minister had personally intervened in an attempt to bring the case to an end. He also made allegations involving the Chief Minister’s residence and Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal, and called for what he described as a clear and credible explanation.

Separately, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal met Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria and sought an independent, time-bound CBI investigation into the allegations.

Badal said his party had submitted evidence to the Governor and demanded the immediate resignation of the Chief Minister. In a post on X, he alleged that the case involved the Chief Minister’s office, his OSD Rajbir Ghuman and an alleged ₹5 crore bribe demand made in the name of the Chief Minister’s wife, Dr Gurpreet Kaur Mann, to settle a rape and abduction case.

Badal alleged that the Punjab Police had failed to act despite what he described as visual and audio evidence. He urged the Governor to intervene and ensure an independent investigation.

SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia said the party had submitted a 300-page dossier to the Governor.

He said the allegations concerned a rape survivor and the trauma faced by her family. Majithia also alleged that a rape accused was being protected and questioned how a cancellation report could have been filed in the case. He referred to an audio clip which he said had been made public.

Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the Punjab Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police to inquire into the allegations and submit an action-taken report within two weeks.

However, the AAP has denied the allegations calling them politically motivated. The party said there was no substance to the claims and alleged that they were aimed at tarnishing the image of the Chief Minister and the party ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.

According to the Chief Minister’s Office, Dr Gurpreet Kaur Mann has issued a legal notice to retired Punjab judge Ranjit Singh over alleged public statements that formed the basis of the complaint cited before the NHRC.