M A I N   N E W S

Manpreet’s office ransacked, probe ordered
Chitleen K Sethi
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 16
First, his phone was reportedly tapped, his house bugged, and now his office has been allegedly ransacked. Manpreet Badal, the SAD’s black sheep, is definitely the most “watched” man in the state.

Responding to newspaper reports that Manpreet’s office on the fifth floor of the main secretariat building here, was allegedly, ransacked yesterday afternoon, the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today ordered an inquiry into the matter.

The incident took place around 1 pm yesterday. It was reported that someone walked into Manpreet’s side office, where the files and the computers were kept, and found two persons going through his files. The whole room was strewn with papers and file covers. It seemed that the two persons were looking for something specific. Sources add that Manpreet’s computer lying in the office too was “broken into”. The two persons, said to be among the secretariat staff panicked on being found out and hurried out of the room.

Taking a serious note of these allegations, the CM today, has asked the Chief Secretary, SC Aggarwal, to look into the matter and report to him, while the Deputy Chief Minister, Sukhbir Badal has asked the state intelligence chief, Suresh Arora, to find out what happened.

Sources add that some members of Manpreet’s permanent staff working in the secretariat were questioned by the intelligence wing. They reportedly told the cops that they were going through the files as a routine, with an aim to put the office in order for the new incumbent!

Following the incident, as if “caught-in-the-act”, a jittery state government went into a defensive overdrive of assurances. Sukhbir Badal said the government did not have anyone under surveillance. He also directed the state police and intelligence top brass to ensure that none, “especially those opposed to the government”, should get the feeling that the government was keeping any tabs on them.

Sukhbir also instructed the DGP, PS Gill that there should be no tinkering with the security apparatus provided to political persons, especially the MLAs and MPs.