Trial proceedings in the corruption and disproportionate assets case against Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal,former deputy chief minister Sukhbir Badal and wife Surinder Badal were adjourned for August 5 by a Special Mohali court on Thursday. The trial in the case,registered in Mohali by Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) during Capt Amarinder Singhs regime in June 2003,had resumed on May 18 and this was the second adjournment after the proceedings had been deferred on June 1 for today. The trial resumed following the Supreme Court dismissing a petition filed by the former Punjab chief minister in May 2008,wherein he had sought transfer of the case from Mohali to somewhere outside the state. Meanwhile,during todays proceedings the Badals and their close relative Narottam Dhillon failed to appear before court,while other co-accused were present. While Badals wife was already exempted from personal appearance,Badal senior,Sukhbir and Dhillon have moved applications seeking exemption from personal appearance. Additional and Special Judge J S Klar,who has been appointed as judge in the trial after it was shifted from the court of S K Garg,was on leave today,following which the matter was posted to August 5 to consider the prosecutions request to record the statement of the accused under Section 313 of the CrPC. It was on April 9,2008,that the prosecution,while concluding its evidence,had admitted before a special court that no incriminating evidence has come to light against the Badals so far.
