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Lawyers to Capt: Don’t seek pre-arrest bail Chandigarh, April 1 It is learnt that following the legal advice, Amarinder, who is presently in London, could seek transit bail so that he is not arrested on the airport or on way to Chandigarh or Punjab. Amarinder and 18 others, including former minister Chaudhary Jagjit Singh and former Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president H.S. Hanspal, were sometime back booked by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau on charges of embezzlement, cheating, fraud, forgery, conspiracy and under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The FIR says that kickbacks of at least Rs 100 crore changed hands between government functionaries and top management of Today Homes, the company that was granted the right to develop the prime land owned by the Ludhiana Improvement Trust, by the previous government. At least two lawyers consulted by Capt Amarinder, one in New Delhi and one in Chandigarh, are learnt to have told him not to apply for anticipatory bail for various reasons. “Apart from the political ramifications, there is a possibility that his anticipatory bail may be turned down by the lower court. What then? Moreover, even senior Congress leaders, including those in the AICC, have told Amarinder that the SAD-BJP government would not like to arrest him at this point,” one of the lawyers told The Tribune. Former Punjab advocate-general Rajinder Singh Cheema was also consulted by the former Chief Minister. But, since Cheema tendered an advice in the City Centre matter as AG, he has clearly told Amarinder that it would not be ethically right for him to appear for him in the present matter. It is learnt that Amarinder has also been informed that there is every possibility that his name might also figure is cases that are being investigated by the VB. “How many anticipatory bails can one person seek?” one lawyer asked. Sources close to him say the feeling in Congress circles is that the SAD-BJP government would also not want to arrest Amarinder without concrete evidence so as not to give the Opposition a handle to beat the government with. Meanwhile, Amarinder is learnt to have told his lawyers and supporters that he will return soon. How soon, nobody knows?
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Amarinder to return on April 9 Chandigarh, April 1 He said that he would leave London next Monday (April 9) and reach
India the same night. “I am going to spearhead a campaign against political vilification and victimisation. I am going to lead a Congress campaign against the SAD-BJP government for pursuing its political vendetta against me and my Cabinet colleagues and other Congress workers and leaders,” Amarinder Singh said. “I will be there for them - Vigilance Bureau or the SAD-BJP government - to take whatever action they deem fit against me. I am not worried, as I have done nothing wrong. I have only worked for Punjab and its people,” he added. Amarinder Singh had left for London after taking oath as a member of Punjab Vidhan Sabha on March 15. Subsequently the Vigilance Bureau of Punjab had registered a case against him and his Cabinet colleague besides 17 others for Rs 100-crore kickbacks in the Ludhiana City Centre scam. Amarinder Singh denied reports that he would be reaching India either on April 2 or April 4. “No, I have booked a flight for April 9 and all my confirmations will come through by Friday (April 6),” he said. “I need full media support to expose Akalis for their vilification campaign against me and my former colleagues,” he added. Sources in the Vigilance Bureau were tight lipped about their line of action in case Amarinder Singh arrives in India as announced by him.
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