Chandigarh, September 29
The Punjab Government is to set up fast-track courts to deal with cases of corruption registered by the Vigilance Bureau, including those against the former Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, and several of his ministers.

The government wants special courts at all four divisional headquarters — Patiala, Ferozepore, Faridkot and Jalandhar. Sources in the government said the requisite fee for setting up these fast-track courts had been deposited with the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Other formalities had also been completed. At present, cases registered by the bureau are heard in the lowers courts where matters come up in routine with other pending cases.

Just two days ago, the bureau had filed a charge sheet in a Gurdaspur court against Mr Sewa Singh Sekhwan, a former minister. Significantly, this was the first-ever charge sheet since the Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, promised to take action in corruption cases more than three years ago.

In a separate statement this evening the Chief Director, Vigilance Bureau, Mr A.P. Pandey said: “Other cases against former Akali ministers are for framing of charges and trial.”

Politically, it is felt that the cases filed against the Akali leaders should reach their logical conclusion. Otherwise these had the potential of snowballing into a poll issue. Even if some of the former ministers end up getting a clean chit from these special courts, the matter would be deemed as decided and not seen as a case harassment or political vendetta, said a senior official.

Corruption cases are pending against former Chief Minister Badal, Mr Nirmal Singh Kahlon, Mr Tota Singh, Mr Gurdev Singh Badal, Mr Ajit Singh Kohar, Dr Ratan Singh Ajnala, Mr Jagdish Singh Garcha, Mr Sohan Singh Thandal, Mr Sucha Singh Langah and Mr Balwinder Singh Bhundar, a former MP.