New Delhi/Chandigarh: CBI is set to question Rajbir Singh Ghuman , OSD to Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann , along with other accused named in the FIR as it ramps up its investigation into the alleged “cash-for-transfers” scam.




Their questioning will take place in the aftermath of CBI filing an FIR and conducting searches at eight locations, including the Punjab CM’s ‘camp office’ in Chandigarh and Ghuman’s native place in Gharachon village of Sangrur , on Tuesday.




Apart from Ghuman, CBI will question alleged middlemen Nitin Gohal , Jitin alias Raja, Romi Raja Mahajan, Bir Devinder and RS Nagra.




Sources said some of the accused, including Ghuman, were supposed to appear before the agency in Chandigarh on Wednesday but failed to join the investigation. Ghuman, sources say, was scheduled to appear before CBI at 2.30 pm. A large crowd of media personnel waited outside the agency’s Sector 30 office in Chandigarh but he didn’t turn up. A CMO official said no summons had been served on Ghuman either physically or by email.




Gohal is under the CBI scanner as the agency has in its possession a slew of WhatsApp chats allegedly mentioning cash transactions and details of postings of senior officials, including multiple DSPs. Gohal, as per ED, allegedly operated as an intermediary for Ghuman, coordinating the bribery network.




CBI’s FIR also mentions ‘post seizure questioning’ of Gohal by ED in May. Gohal has been accused of receiving and forwarding drafts of orders and policies to private persons prior to the official release by the govt.




One of the policies pertained to ‘foodgrain labour and cartage’, which was allegedly shared by Gohal with co-accused Nagra, who is engaged in a foodgrain supply business. Nagra is accused of wanting some favourable changes in the policy through Gohal, as per the FIR.




The agency has also obtained several other incriminating documents — including real estate projects, cooperative housings and irregularities in Greater Mohali Area Development Authority — allegedly suggesting interference of multiple private individuals in the functioning of Punjab govt.




CBI’s investigation focuses on allegations of corruption by way of allegedly influencing and manipulating transfer-postings, including those of IAS and IPS officers, departmental proceedings, matters pertaining to policy formulation, administrative approvals, tender conditions, licensing matters, land-use conversion, property disputes, revenue and land-related issues in lieu of pecuniary benefits.