CBI Raid at Punjab CM Camp Office a BJP Campaign Tactic, Alleges Mann; BJP Denies Political Colouring

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday alleged that the CBI raid at his camp office was a political tactic by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), shortly after the Punjab and Haryana High Court directed the Central Bureau of Investigation to probe corruption allegations linked to his office. The raid, conducted in Chandigarh, marks a significant escalation in the ongoing political confrontation between the ruling Aam Aadmi Party in Punjab and the BJP-led central government.

The High Court order came in response to a petition seeking an investigation into alleged corruption in the Chief Minister's office. Mann, reacting sharply, accused the BJP of misusing central agencies to target political opponents ahead of upcoming elections. "This is a BJP campaign tactic to divert attention from real issues," he said. The BJP, however, dismissed the allegation, stating that the High Court ordered the probe and that political colour should not be given to a judicial directive. "We respect the court's order and expect the same from the Chief Minister," a BJP spokesperson said.

The development is likely to intensify political tensions in Punjab and could have national implications, as opposition parties often accuse the BJP of weaponizing agencies like the CBI. The CBI is expected to begin its investigation shortly, and further political reactions are anticipated. The case also puts a spotlight on the judiciary's role in ordering probes against high-profile figures, with both sides claiming moral high ground.