Chandigarh, Oct 8 :  Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday lashed out at the BJP-led Central government after CBI raids on his Officer-on-Special Duty (OSD) and others in a corruption case, saying that this indicates the saffron party's election campaign has begun in the poll-bound state. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday registered a corruption case involving an OSD to Mann and five others on the Punjab and Haryana High Court's directions, and searched several locations, including the chief minister's "camp office", officials said.

Earlier, the high court noted that the material submitted by the Enforcement Directorate against the officers prima facie indicated their involvement in corruption, and directed a CBI probe. While interacting with reporters after the launch of the Hunar Punjab portal here, Mann was asked about the CBI raids. "The BJP has started its election campaign. This is their way," he replied. "The CBI search means that the Punjab Assembly elections will be held on time," he said, taking a swipe at the BJP. 

Mann alleged that whenever an election is due in a non-BJP-ruled state, the Central agencies start raid operations months ahead. Citing examples, he said that the Enforcement Directorate raided close associates of Mamata Banerjee a few months before the West Bengal elections. AAP leaders Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia were arrested in a "fake scam" ahead of elections in Delhi. Similarly, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren was raided ahead of Assembly polls in the state. Raids were conducted on Congress leaders in Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh ahead of elections in these states, Mann said. When pointed out that the CBI action followed high court's directions, the chief minister said, "CBI has cases pending for 10-15 years. Do they ever take such quick action?" Mann said he had entered politics to serve Punjabis, not to loot Punjab.

"They will find nothing here. There is no corruption money in our homes. People of Punjab know everything. They know with what purpose we entered politics," Mann said. He said the BJP is trying to create fear and tarnish the image of an elected government through Central investigative agencies; however, "no matter how many raids they conduct, they will not find even a single rupee of corruption in our possession". Mann said his party's politics is about giving people their rights, creating employment, strengthening public services and putting Punjab back on the path of progress. 

The chief minister said the people of Punjab had repeatedly rejected the politics of fear and intimidation. "They can conduct raids, send agencies and create pressure, but they cannot raid the hearts of Punjabis or silence their voices. People of Punjab will continue to stand with truth and development," he said. Replying to another question, Mann said he was not afraid of any investigation and would continue to face every challenge with courage.

"We are not going anywhere. When we get a summons from the CBI, we will face the investigation," he stated. On the Punjab and Haryana High Court's order, the CBI has registered a corruption case against OSD Rajbir Ghuman and five others -- namely Nitin Gohal, Jitin Gohal alias Raja, Romi Raja Mahajan, Bir Devinder, and R S Nagra -- for allegedly influencing the appointments of IAS and IPS officers in return for pecuniary advantage. On Monday, the state government approached the Supreme Court challenging the Punjab and Haryana High Court's direction on a petition filed by advocate Nikhil Saraf.  The CBI on Tuesday raided eight locations linked to Ghuman and other accused. 

/Agencies