Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia speaks during a press conference at BJP HQ, in New Delhi on September 2, 2026.

| Photo Credit: ANI

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday (September 2, 2026) demanded the resignation of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the “cash for transfer” charges in the State.There were serious allegations of institutional corruption in Punjab, BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said at a press conference. Citing the purported findings of a probe by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), he alleged that money was being taken for the transfers and postings of senior bureaucrats and police officers.Confidential government documents had reached middlemen, but despite seven letters from the ED, no First Information Report (FIR) had been registered, the BJP leader said. He demanded the immediate resignation of Mr. Mann and a fair investigation by the CBI.Claiming that Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal and Mr. Mann “have today become symbols of corruption”, Mr. Bhatia alleged that senior Punjab officials were also involved in the “scam”.“Their transfers and postings are carried out according to a rate card...This rate card fixes the price for who will get which charge and in which department they will be posted,” he said.The facts presented by the ED before the Punjab and Haryana High Court in its affidavit revealed that confidential documents, draft lists of postings and transfers, and draft lists of government policies to be implemented in the future were found on WhatsApp on the mobile phones of alleged middlemen and touts, Mr. Bhatia said.“The concerning aspect is that, in accordance with the law, the ED told the Punjab Police that this was a cognisable offence and that an FIR should be registered. However, despite seven letters being written to the Punjab Police, no FIR was registered...,” Mr. Bhatia said.“Does the OSD [Officer on Special Duty] have such powers that he makes the postings of more than 20 senior IAS [Indian Administrative Service] and IPS [Indian Police Service] officers, and the Chief Minister, Bhagwant Mann, has no knowledge of it? Is this possible?” the BJP spokesperson said. Published - September 02, 2026 08:52 pm IST