M A I N   N E W S

Chohan’s petition dismissed
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 13
The London-based self-styled president of “Khalistan”, Dr Jagjit Singh Chohan’s petition seeking seven days’ notice in case he was required by the Indian police was today dismissed by Mr Justice Mehtab Singh Gill of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on technical grounds.

Pronouncing the orders in open court, Mr Justice Gill, however, gave the petitioner permission to file a fresh petition in the high court, if so advised.

Mr Justice Gill observed that neither the petition nor the wakalatnama had been signed by Dr Chohan. The Judge added that the power of attorney, apart from being faxed, had not been appropriately authorised. Moreover, the proper procedure had not been followed.

Earlier during the proceedings, Mr Ranjan Lakhanpal, claiming to be Dr Chohan’s counsel, stated that the petitioner was not required by the police as per the statement made by the Union of India, but was apprehending arrest on flimsy grounds.

Seeking seven days’ notice in case the petitioner was required to be arrested, he stated that Dr Chohan was 71 years old and wanted to return to India after 21 years. The petitioner, he added, was an Indian citizen and this had been held by the high court while taking up another petition.

Mr Justice V.K. Jhanji of the high court had earlier directed the Union of India and other respondents to issue travel documents to Dr Chohan for enabling him to return to India.

In his detailed order, Mr Justice Jhanji had observed: “As regards the contention that the intelligence agencies had not favoured the grant of travel documents to the petitioner in view of his known stand in favour of ‘Khalistan’, it is only to be stated that the return to one’s own country is a fundamental right conferred on a citizen under Article 21 of the Constitution of India”.

BMW case: HC reduces Nanda’s surety amount

New Delhi, June 13
The Delhi High Court today reduced substantially the bond and surety amount of BMW case prime accused Sanjeev Nanda from Rs 45 crore for allowing him to go abroad and directed him to furnish a personal bond of Rs 5 crore and three sureties totalling Rs 14 crore.

Modifying an earlier order passed by the court on June 1, Mr Justice A.K. Sikri allowed Nanda’s application for reduction of the bond and surety amount on the ground that he was not in a position to execute sureties of Rs 45 crore as it was beyond his capacity.

Nanda’s counsel R.K. Anand said his client was ready to execute three sureties of family properties valued at about Rs 14 crore besides a suitable bond. PTI