M A I N   N E W S

Kahlon’s pre-arrest bail plea dismissed
Umesh Dewan/TNS

Patiala, August 14
In connection with the alleged irregularities in the recruitment of 909 Panchayat Secretaries during the tenure of the SAD-BJP government from 1997 to 2002, the Court of Special Judge (CBI Cases) Balbir Singh today dismissed the anticipatory bail application of the Punjab Assembly Speaker, Nirmal Singh Kahlon. The arguments on the maintainability of the anticipatory bail were held in the court yesterday but the orders were kept reserved for today. It is learnt that the court dismissed the anticipatory bail of Kahlon in the evening.

Speaking to The Tribune, advocate SS Waraich, one of the counsel for Kahlon, said, “The court has dismissed the anticipatory bail. We will be able to know the grounds on which the bail application has been dismissed on August 16, as we will get the copy of the orders from the court on Monday.” When asked whether they will now move to the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking anticipatory bail, Waraich said they had two options, adding, “Either we should appear in the Court of Special Judge (CBI Cases), Patiala, on August 17, the date fixed for the start of the trial in the case or we should move to the Punjab and Haryana High Court.”

Notably, yesterday Kahlon’s counsel had argued in the court that the case against Kahlon was nothing but the result of political vendetta unleashed on Akali leaders by the previous Congress government. Kahlon’s counsel had also argued in the court that his client had already joined the investigations and the CBI never sought Kahlon’s custodial interrogation during the investigations and hence he should be granted anticipatory bail.

Kahlon along with 14 others charge-sheeted by the CBI had been charged under Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 465, 468, 471 (all three dealing with acts of forgery) and Section 201 (removing evidence) of the IPC and relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act. It was alleged that Kahlon enterd into a conspiracy with the other accused and indulged in corruption, cheating and forgery of the records in the recruitment of 909 Panchayat Secretaries by abusing his official position. On July 9, the Court of Special Judge (CBI cases) had accepted the charge sheet filed by the CBI and summoned all accused in the case for appearance on August 17 in the court.