Chandigarh, May 30
In the wake of court’s strong disapproval of his repeated non-appearance and with the Vigilance Bureau’s shadow looming large over him, B.I.S. Chahal, media adviser to former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, finally appeared before the Punjab and Haryana High Court today. He was granted stay on arrest in the Ludhiana city centre case till tomorrow.

Looking sombre and a shadow of his former self, Chahal first came to the court a good 20 minutes before the start of proceedings with the court premises teeming with undercover Vigilance men. In fact, some of the Vigilance SPs were found sitting in the court also.

The moment of reckoning came when Chahal made long-awaited appearance before the Full Bench, comprising Chief Justice Vijender Jain, Justice Suryakant and Justice Rajive Bhalla, in connection with a contempt case slapped on him. Importantly, the court had observed during previous hearings that “it was the worst case of contempt in judicial history”.

Counsel for the petitioner Ashok Aggarwal pleaded for protection to Chahal from the Punjab police saying that “he will not be able to reach home the moment he ventures outside the court”. At this, the court observed, in a lighter vein, that it would be better if the petitioner confessed to his guilt in the contempt case and goes behind bars for three months as that would save him from the police.

The Full Bench then directed Chahal to furnish the bail bonds before the registrar-general of the high court and adjourned the case till July 18 for further arguments. He was also directed to go to the court of Justice Uma Nath Singh to seek protection against arrest as he had already filed an anticipatory bail plea there.

Justice Uma Nath Singh, while pronouncing the order on the bail petition, directed the Punjab government to file an affidavit of the Director of Vigilance Bureau stating as to in how many cases Chahal was required by them.

The judge also asked Chahal to surrender his passport tomorrow and to stay within the territorial jurisdiction of Chandigarh only. There was yet another petition by Chahal seeking at least a week’s notice prior to his arrest which too was adjourned for tomorrow.

Peeved at repeated adjournments owing to non-appearance of Chahal, the court had on May 9 issued bailable warrants against him.