Former CPS Ram Kishan gets relief as HC stays probe

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 19

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today stayed investigation into the corruption case against Haryana’s former Chief Parliamentary Secretary Ram Kishan Fauji in the alleged cash-for-CLU scam.

Justice K Kannan also set a four-week deadline for the Haryana Government to get forensic examination of a CD conducted from the Hyderabad-based Central Forensic Laboratory. Justice Kannan also directed the state authorities to send a messenger, along with the CD samples, to Hyderabad to avoid delay. The case will now come up for further hearing on January 29.

His counsel has all along been arguing that the CD was doctored. He had earlier referred to a report by a Bangalore laboratory, which suggested that the CD was not authentic.

He has also been arguing that the compact disc was required to be matched with the microchip of the CD recorder for proving its authenticity. Elaborating, he said a photograph had little evidential value till it was matched with its negative to prove its originality. Similarly, it was essential to compare the CD with the microchip in the recording instrument to prove that the disc was not tampered with and the photographs were not morphed.

Facing allegations of corruption, Fauji had moved the High court against the Haryana Lokayukta’s order to register a case against him. In January, the Haryana Lokayukta, Justice Pritam Pal, had recommended registration of a case after the release of a video footage allegedly showing Fauji demanding Rs 5 crore for change of land use for a plot along the NH-8 in Gurgaon.

The matter was referred to the Lokayukta for a probe by the state government, allegedly under pressure of the Opposition. Soon after the directives, the state Chief Secretary had sent a reference to the Lokayukta for reconsideration of the matter on the ground that his observations were “at variance” with the findings. But the Lokayukta dismissed the state’s application on February 11.