Sambit Patra targets AAP over corruption allegations against Punjab CM's OSD

BJP leader Sambit Patra on Monday targeted the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab after the Punjab and Haryana High Court ordered a CBI probe into corruption allegations involving Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's Officer on Special Duty (OSD) Rajbir Singh Ghuman.

Patra said the High Court's directive confirms the allegations of corruption that the BJP has been raising against the Punjab administration.

Addressing a press conference, Patra alleged that law and order had deteriorated and corruption had reached an all-time high under the AAP government in Punjab.

"As you can see, the Bharatiya Janata Party has maintained all along that in Punjab, whether it is the law and order situation or corruption, everything has reached a breaking point; the law and order has crumbled, and corruption is at an all-time high. Today, what we have been saying has been confirmed by the High Court itself," said Patra.

He also called on AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, the party leadership and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to clarify the alleged scale of the matter and the involvement of their secretaries.

"I feel Arvind Kejriwal ji, the Aam Aadmi Party, and Bhagwant Mann ji should give a clarification on this regarding how massive this scam actually is, how deeply their own secretaries are involved in it, and how their own secretaries are engaging in such corruption and scams," added Patra.

Patra's remarks followed the Punjab and Haryana High Court's direction for a CBI investigation into corruption allegations involving Ghuman and other individuals. The court has also directed the central probe agency to submit its findings within two months.

The order came in response to a PIL filed by advocate Nikhil Saraf, who sought an independent investigation into allegations flagged by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

According to the ED's allegations, certain individuals were involved in corrupt practices and improperly influenced official transfers, postings and government procurement contracts.