CBI raids Punjab VB office in Mohali; middleman arrested in ₹25-lakh bribery case

The arrested suspects were produced before a designated court in Chandigarh as part of ongoing legal proceedings.

The investigation notes the involvement of Punjab Police gunmen, armed with AK-47 rifles, who were purportedly providing protection to the private middlemen in the bribery scheme.

Preliminary findings by the CBI suggest that Inspector OP Rana was actively involved in the bribery scheme and was leaking sensitive information regarding pending vigilance cases to private individuals.

The CBI announced the arrest of three individuals—Ankit Wadhwa, Raghav Goyal, and Vikas Goyal—in connection with the ₹20-lakh bribery case involving Punjab's Vigilance Bureau. Rana remains an absconder.

Raids conducted on properties in Malout and Chandigarh recovered ₹9 lakh in cash and incriminating documents that point toward a deeper conspiracy related to the bribery case.

A subsequent chase by CBI teams led to the capture of Raghav Goyal and Vikas Goyal, along with two gunmen, near Ambala at the Punjab-Haryana border. Rana continued to be an absconder at that time.

During a sting operation conducted in Chandigarh on Monday, May 11, 2026, Ankit Wadhwa was arrested while allegedly accepting the payoff on behalf of the group. Raghav Goyal and Vikas Goyal fled the initial trap after being tipped off by surveillance gunmen. Inspector OP Rana remained at large (absconding).

Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia attacked the AAP government, saying Bhagwant Mann has no moral right to continue as CM, following the raids.

The CBI raided a five-star hotel in Chandigarh, where inspector OP Rana (reader to VB chief director SS Chauhan) and middleman Raghav Goel were negotiating a ₹25 lakh bribe with a complainant; ₹13 lakh was recovered. Later the agency searched the Punjab Vigilance Bureau office in Mohali after arresting Goel, while Rana escaped. An FIR under the Prevention of Corruption Act was registered against Rana and Goel. The CBI sealed Rana’s office and planned a formal search after a warrant, with raids also taking place at Goel’s house in Malout. The complainant is believed to be an inspector from Malout.

The Enforcement Directorate arrested Punjab industries minister Sanjeev Arora in connection with an alleged GST fraud-linked money laundering case involving entities linked to him.

Subsequent CBI raids on Bhullar’s premises resulted in recovery of over ₹7 crore in cash, along with gold and luxury items.

The Central Bureau of Investigation arrested Ropar Range DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar in a bribery case involving ₹8 lakh.