Punjab and Haryana High Court dismisses Sadhu Singh Dharamsot’s plea

In a setback to former minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has refused to quash, among other things, arrest orders and grounds of arrest “passed” by the Directorate of Enforcement.

Justice Mahabir Singh Sindhu said the petitioner remained an MLA for five consecutive terms and was a Cabinet minister from 2017 to 2021. “The petitioner is the main kingpin of the criminal conspiracy hatched in relation to illegalities committed in Forest Department. Being a public servant, he had misused his official position and used to get hefty amount as well as undue benefits in the form of bribe from officials of Forest Department and contractors for cutting of khair trees; transfer of officers; issuance of no objection certificates (NOCs), etc,” Justice Sindhu asserted.