School land misuse case: Ludhiana court grants interim bail to Ashu, orders him to join probe

“The applicant (Ashu) was not named in the FIR, he has been subsequently named. The case of the prosecution is based on documentary evidence. So, the applicant is directed to join the investigation as and when called by the Investigating Officer and in the event of his arrest, the applicant shall be released on interim bail by the Arresting/Investigating officer,” read the order issued by court of additional sessions judge Jaspinder Singh.

The court fixed June 11 as next date hearing.

Ashu’s counsel Vijay Mahendru said the Congress leader had submitted in the court that he was falsely implicated in the case “only to sabotage his election campaign.”

It was submitted in the court that the FIR in the case was registered on January 8, 2025 at Division Number 5 police station of Ludhiana on the complaint of Executive Officer, Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) for action against management committee of New Senior Secondary School. It was alleged that under the scheme of LIT, 4.7 acres of land in Sarabha Nagar was allotted to the committee for running a senior secondary school. As per the agreement, the land could not be used for any other purpose. However, in March 1971, a complaint was received from local residents that a college was being constructed at the site. However, as per the agreement, only school could be constructed on it Thereafter, a letter was issued to stop the construction of the college.

Further, in 2023, several other complaints were received that private playway schools and other shops/businesses were running on the allotted land. After an inquiry, the current FIR was registered under the sections 420, 120-B, 467, 468, 471 and 409 of IPC against management committee members.