Complete probe against Henry in 4 months: HC

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday directed the Union Home Ministry,Punjab chief secretary and DGP to complete an ongoing probe into a complaint against former cabinet minister Avtar Henry in four months.

The complainant,Ajay Sehgal,has alleged that Henry — who has been a 4-time MLA and a cabinet minister (2002 to 2005) — is not an Indian national,as he had voluntarily acquired the citizenship of United Kingdom in January,1968. He had also obtained a British passport on March 1,1968,and travelled to Mumbai on it. Sehgal had raised the matter with the Centre and Punjab government on September 9,2011.

The petitioner alleged that Avtar Singh Sanghera (alleged real name of Henry) had mentioned his father’s name as Lakhbir Singh while applying for UK citizenship and British passport through in reality,his father’s name is Joginder Singh.

He added that under the provisions of Section 9 of the Citizenship Act-1955 and Article 9 of the Constitution,Henry ceases to be an Indian citizen after he acquired the citizenship of UK.