The CBI raid on the Punjab Vigilance Bureau office in Mohali has brought together two distinct threads, the arrest of Raghav Goel, a Bharatiya Janata Party Yuva Morcha leader from Malout, and the office of senior IPS officer Sharad Satya Chauhan, who is the senior-most contender for the post of Director General of Police, Punjab.
Goel, who has been active in BJP circles and has often flaunted photographs with top party leaders along with an invite to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony, was arrested as an alleged middleman in a Rs 25 lakh bribery case.
He is said to be close to Rajasthan BJP leader Gajendra Shekawat. Just three days ago, his police security was withdrawn. It could not be confirmed if the security was central or Punjab police. The CBI and the Enforcement Directorate have been arresting leaders from the ruling AAP government or Punjab police officials appointed at key positions by the Bhagwant Mann government.
This case, however, targeted a BJP leader. As per media reports and sources, the CBI conducted raids at a five-star hotel in Chandigarh and later at the Vigilance Bureau office, recovering Rs 13 lakh.
The probe agency has booked Chauhan’s personal reader on graft charges for allegedly facilitating the deal to settle a case. The reader, who had been with Chauhan for the last five to six years, is yet to be arrested.
Sharad Satya Chauhan, appointed Director of the Punjab Vigilance Bureau last month after nearly a decade away from key postings, is the senior-most officer in the panel sent to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in April for shortlisting candidates for the DGP post.
In his first comment on the controversy, Chauhan told The Tribune: “I am not responsible for any shady activity of my reader. My name has been unnecessarily dragged into this case. I was in office till 6 pm and am going to attend office today also. I am available.”
He refused to comment on whether the raid had any link with the pending UPSC selection process and maintained that he has had a clean career. The case is being investigated under the Prevention of Corruption Act, with the CBI also carrying out searches at Goel’s residence in Malout. BJP sources said Goel had ties with some BJP leaders in Bathinda and Malout as well. He was not given any official position, a BJP leader claimed.
