M A I N   N E W S

land scam
Ex-DC’s bail plea rejected, faces arrest
Tribune News Service

Patiala, January 25
Suspended IAS officer and former Patiala Deputy Commissioner Vikas Garg, whose pre-arrest bail plea was turned down by the Supreme Court yesterday, may be arrested anytime in connection with the Rs 250-crore Patiala land scam. In a separate hearing, the apex court also denied bail to another accused Yashpal Aggarwal in the same case.

Meanwhile, the Vigilance Bureau (VB) conducted fresh raids over the past 24-hours to arrest the officer and other accused in the case. However, no arrest has been made so far.

Sources in the VB Department said the only option left with the accused after the Supreme Court orders was to join investigation or face a proclaimed offender’s tag. “We will wait for another couple of days and then file for the PO status for the accused,” they said. Investigating officer SSP Pritam Singh said the bail applications of two accused, former DC Vikas Garg and co-accused Yashpal Aggarwal, were rejected on January 24. “The decision will help us tighten our grip around the neck of the accused as they will now have no option but to face arrest,” said the officer.