CBI raid at Vigilance office triggers political storm in Punjab
Gurpreet Singh :- A recent CBI raid at the Punjab Vigilance Bureau office in Mohali has sparked major political and administrative controversy in the state. The action has brought two important names into focus — BJP leader Raghav Goyal from Malout and senior IPS officer Sharad Satya Chauhan, who is considered one of the frontrunners for the post of Punjab Director General of Police.
Raghav Goyal, known for his close links with several BJP leaders, has been arrested in connection with an alleged Rs 25 lakh bribery case. Sources claim he acted as a middleman in the deal. It is also being said that Goyal shares close ties with senior Rajasthan BJP leader Gajendra Shekhawat. Interestingly, his police security cover was withdrawn just three days before the CBI action.
According to sources, the CBI first conducted a raid at a five-star hotel in Chandigarh and later reached the Vigilance Bureau office in Mohali, where cash amounting to Rs 13 lakh was reportedly recovered. A case has now been registered against the personal reader of IPS officer Sharad Satya Chauhan on corruption charges.
Investigators suspect that the reader played a role in negotiating a settlement in a sensitive case. The official had reportedly been posted with Chauhan for the last several years. However, no arrest has been made in his case so far.
Reacting to the controversy, Sharad Satya Chauhan said he had no connection with any alleged wrongdoing by his reader. Speaking to the media, he stated that attempts were being made to unnecessarily drag his name into the matter. Chauhan also refused to comment on whether the controversy could impact the ongoing process for selecting the next Punjab DGP.
The development has created political ripples because central agencies have usually targeted leaders linked to the ruling Aam Aadmi Party in Punjab. This time, however, the name of a BJP functionary has surfaced, leading to sharp reactions across political circles.
Meanwhile, local BJP leaders have started distancing themselves from Raghav Goyal, claiming he did not hold any official position in the party. The CBI is also conducting searches at his residence in Malout as part of the ongoing investigation.
