M A I N   N E W S

Manpreet Badal booked in corruption case
Chander Parkash and Anirudh Gupta

Zira (Ferozepore), September 27
In an apparent move to tighten the noose around the Badal family, the local police has registered a case against the Gidderbaha MLA and SAD chief whip, Mr Manpreet Singh Badal along with Mr Jaijit Singh Jojo, Mr Darshan Singh Mudheer and others, for their alleged involvement in corruption and cheating a disciple of Dera Sekhwan in the subdivision.

Police sources said the case was registered against Mr Badal and others on the complaint of Mahant Harjinder Singh, who had been looking after the affairs of Dera Sekhwan. The complainant alleged that Mr Badal and others had demanded Rs 20 lakh as bribe from him to get a land dispute settled in his favour during the tenure of SAD-BJP government. Though he paid Rs 13 lakh to Mr Badal in 1999, neither was his work done, nor was his money returned, he alleged.

The land under dispute, about 470 acres, is situated at Kot Bhai village in the Gidderbaha area in Hardwar in Uttaranchal, besides in this subdivision. After the death of one of the heads of the dera a few decades ago, the ownership of the land became a bone of contention.

Mahant Harjinder Singh lodged a complaint through an affidavit to the police authorities that Mr Manpreet Badal had taken Rs 13 lakh for disposing of a dispute through a close aide, but the dispute was never resolved. He sought the registration of criminal case against Mr Badal and others on the basis of his complaint.

The Ferozepore SSP started an inquiry into the complaint, but could not record the statement of Mr Badal. Mr Badal, apprehending that he might be arrested, approached the sessions court and get a stay against his arrest.

Mr Sukhbir Badal, while talking to The Tribune today, the government had registered a false criminal case against Mr Manpreet Badal and his kin. The Congress government had no other business than to harass political opponents, he alleged.