India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) questioned Rajbir Singh Ghuman, officer on special duty (OSD) to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, for nearly six hours Friday as part of an ongoing corruption investigation.

Ghuman arrived at the CBI office in Chandigarh around 3 p.m. and emerged at 8:45 p.m., telling reporters he answered approximately 40 questions. He claimed the probe is a political plot to malign the Chief Minister and the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ahead of upcoming elections.

The inquiry stems from an Oct. 5 ruling by the Punjab and Haryana High Court ordering a  probe by a central agency into alleged irregularities surrounding government transfers, postings, and tenders. Following the order, the CBI registered a First Information Report against Ghuman and several others.

India's Supreme Court has directed federal authorities not to take coercive measures against Ghuman while the investigation proceeds, but rejected pleas to stay the FIR or pause the inquiry.

Ghuman, who was served a notice via WhatsApp following two previous missed summons, said he will continue to cooperate with investigators and is scheduled to appear again Monday.