Shimla, June 11
In a swift and closely guarded operation a team of the Punjab Vigilance Department arrested Mr Narottam Singh, a nephew of Mr Parkash Singh Badal, former Punjab Chief Minister, from his flat in the suburban locality of Kuftadhar in the wee hours today.
The midnight operation by the team headed by Mr Siddhartha Chattopadhyaya, DIG, Vigilance, caught Mr Narottam Singh unawares. He had come to the town only two days ago along with his NRI wife to evade arrest. Hardly anyone, not even the neighbours, knew him. He had only been an occasional visitor and kept aloof.
However, the Punjab sleuths had done enough homework to nab him. Mr Narottam Singh did not even get time to react and quietly accompanied the team after being informed about the case (FIR 22/2002) registered against him under section 13 (1b) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The team arrived here at 1.30 am and after informing the local police raided the flat number 8 in Dilshant Estate at 3.30 am. Policemen from the Lakkar Bazar post accompanied the team. Mr Narottam Singh was in the house along with his wife. He was taken to the Lakkar Bazar police post where a report was lodged in the daily diary.
When this correspondent visited the flat of Mr Narottam Singh his servants were cleaning the house. They said their master had gone out of station. Ms Varinder, a neighbour, said she did not have any occasion to interact with the family and she was also not aware that Mr Narottam Singh was a relative of Mr Badal.
Senior police officers, including the local SP, was informed about the team’s possible visit to the state capital yesterday.
The Punjab police had been on Mr Narottam’s trail for the past quite some time. His arrest is expected to lead to a breakthrough in the cases against Mr Badal.
