Patiala, August 30
Bharat Inder Singh Chahal, former media adviser to Capt Amarinder Singh, was today released from jail after the CJM Patiala granted him bail in the disproportionate assets case. He walked free out of jail after about two months since he was arrested in attempt-to-murder case at Ludhiana. He was arrested as he went to join investigation in the City Centre scam case at Ludhiana. Thereafter, he was kept in police or judicial custody in one case or another.

Chahal was released from jail at about 5.45 pm. However, he left to an undisclosed destination from the jail in the car of his advocates who secured his release. His supporters, led by Lakhwinder Singh Lovely, former vice-chairman of the Forest Corporation, and media persons standing outside the jail could just manage a glimpse of Chahal leaving in a Skoda car.

Sources here said Chahal was taken to an undisclosed destination by his advocates, fearing that the Vigilance might not arrest him in another case. He did not even go to his Patiala residence.

NPS Waraich, counsel for Chahal, pleaded in the court that the Vigilance has nothing to recover from him in the disproportionate assets case. The property that it was claiming as disproportionate assets of Chahal has already been declared by him in his income tax returns.

The question is about the value of the properties. The Vigilance has stated that the real value of the properties of Chahal is much more than what has been stated in papers. However, this contention would be decided by the court later.

Chahal’s counsel also produced a certificate from the solicitor of Ranjit Singh Dhillon, who, according to the Vigilance, was his partner in foreign investments, including properties in England. In the certificate it has been stated that the person named Ranjit Singh Dhillon, BIS Chahal, Jaswinder Kaur (Chahal’s wife) and Kawaljeet Kaur (daughter in law) do not own any property in Scotland.

The Vigilance also failed to produce the records regarding the ownership of cars that were allegedly in his possession.

The prosecution in the case, however, opposed bail to Chahal, maintaining that he was an influential person. After going out on bail, he can influence the proceedings in the case.

The judge, however, granted bail to Chahal against a bail bond of Rs 5 lakh and a surety of the same amount.

With this, Chahal has been given bail in all cases, including forcibly taking away Mercedes of Patiala-based businessman, not making payments to Mohali-based contractor and disproportionate assets case registered against him by the Punjab Vigilance at Patiala.