CBI Raids: Bhagwant Mann Accuses BJP of Weaponizing Agencies Ahead of Elections

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of misusing federal agencies to harass political opponents ahead of elections, following a series of raids by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the state. The raids, which targeted several locations, have sparked a fresh political row between the AAP-led Punjab government and the BJP-led central government.

The controversy intensified after the High Court, while directing a probe, observed that material shared by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) prima facie indicated the involvement of officers in acts of corruption. Mann, in a sharp attack, said the BJP's way of working ahead of elections is to weaponize agencies like the CBI and ED. The CBI has not yet issued a formal statement on the raids, but officials said the action was based on credible evidence.

The raids and Mann's allegations have drawn sharp reactions from opposition parties, with several leaders condemning the alleged politicization of federal agencies. The BJP has dismissed the accusations as baseless, accusing the Punjab government of shielding corrupt officials. The incident is likely to further polarize the political landscape in Punjab ahead of the upcoming elections, with both sides digging in for a bitter fight.