M A I N   N E W S

Badal’s Sirsa farmhouse raided
Search of Orbit Resort ends

Sirsa, July 17
Intensifying their search of properties owned by former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his family members, Punjab Vigilance Bureau officials today raided Mr Badal’s farmhouse at Balasar, near here.

Haryana police sources said the Vigilance sleuths accompanied by engineers of the Public Works Department (Building and Roads) and revenue officers raided the sprawling farmhouse.

Vigilance Chief Director A.P. Pandey said in Chandigarh that the team was expected to complete its job by Saturday. The area was spread over about 350 acres, he said.

The Haryana police sources said the Vigilance officials were accompanied by Punjab police personnel who received logistic support from the Haryana police.

As many as 200 Akali Dal workers raised slogans as the team entered the farmhouse.

The search of the farmhouse commenced within hours of a similar action ending today at Orbit Resort owned by Mr Badal’s son Sukhbir, Rajya Sabha MP, at Gurgaon.

The Punjab police personnel closed the gate of the farmhouse in Sirsa and kept the media out. The Akali Dal workers at the gate checked the Vigilance officials and those accompanying them.

A court in Kharar (Punjab) had issued 13 warrants on June 27 for the search of 16 properties belonging to Mr Badal and his family members in Chandigarh, Delhi, Punjab and Haryana. The house of Mr Sukhbir’s PA, Krishan Kumar, in the Vasant Kunj area of New Delhi was included on the list later.

The warrants were returnable by July 20 and the properties raided so far include Orbit Resort (Gurgaon), Mr Sukhbir’s house and shop-cum-offices in Chandigarh, a poultry farm near Kharar, petrol stations in Badal village and a workshop at Killianwali.

GURGAON: The Vigilance team has completed the search of Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal’s resort here.

The 40-member team, assisted by officials of the Public Works Department (Building and Roads), completed photography, videography and measurement of the resort yesterday, Vigilance sources said.

They said imported marble had been used in the resort but did not divulge more information. Official sources said the resort, spread over 17.5 acres, had not paid external development charges at the rate of Rs 402 per square metre to the Haryana State Industrial Development Corporation despite several notices. — PTI