Punjab Govt vs CBI Probe: CJI to Constitute New Bench After Justice Sheel Nagu’s Recusal

October 9, 2026

New Delhi: Supreme Court Justice Sheel Nagu on Friday recused himself from hearing the Punjab government’s petition challenging the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s decision to hand over the investigation of corruption allegations against Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s Officer on Special Duty (OSD) Rajveer Ghuman and others to the CBI. Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant will now constitute a new bench to hear the case.

On Friday, the matter came up for hearing before a bench comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu. Justice Datta stated that Justice Nagu could not hear the case. The bench then directed that the matter be referred to the Chief Justice of India for the formation of a new bench.

CJI Surya Kant to constitute a new bench

This development comes after Thursday’s hearing. On that day, the Supreme Court postponed the hearing on the Punjab government’s petition until Friday. Justice Datta explained that the case file had reached the bench late and Justice Sheel Nagu had not had sufficient opportunity to study the documents.

On Thursday, senior advocate Vikas Singh, representing the Punjab government, sought relief from any coercive action during the interim period. The bench questioned how an interim order could be passed when the judges had not even studied the case file. The bench remarked, “How can we do this when we haven’t even read the file?”

High Court Orders Handing Over Investigation to CBI

The Punjab government has challenged the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s October 5 order in the Supreme Court. The High Court had directed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to hand over the investigation into the alleged corruption allegations leveled in three letters sent to Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav to the CBI.

The High Court had directed the CBI to register a case and submit a status report on the investigation within two months. Additionally, the Punjab government and police were directed to fully cooperate with the central agency in the investigation.

The ED alleged that the Chief Minister’s OSD, Rajveer Ghuman, and his associates, Nitin Gohal and Bir Devinder, were interfering in administrative transfers and appointments, as well as matters related to government tenders. Based on these allegations, the ED demanded the registration of an FIR.

Punjab Police Failed to Register an FIR, Case Reaches High Court

After the Punjab Police failed to register an FIR based on the ED’s letters, advocate Nikhil Saraf filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the High Court. The petition sought an independent CBI investigation into the matter.

The petitioner alleged that the ED letters contained serious allegations against individuals associated with the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office. Demanding an impartial investigation, the petition stated that the investigation should be free from the influence of the Punjab Police and the Punjab Vigilance.

CBI Registers FIR, Conducts Searches at Eight Locations

Following the High Court’s direction, the CBI has registered an FIR in this case and initiated an investigation. On Tuesday, the agency conducted searches at eight locations in Chandigarh and Punjab. These included the Chief Minister’s camp office in Chandigarh and premises associated with Rajveer Ghuman in Sangrur and Mohali.

On Wednesday, Rajveer Ghuman and his other associates were summoned to appear at the CBI’s Chandigarh office for questioning. The Punjab government’s petition will now be heard further in the Supreme Court by a new bench constituted by the Chief Justice.