Three witnesses examined as Badals skip hearing again

While the father-son duo had sought exemption from personal appearance due to preoccupation in official business,Surinder Badal has already been granted permanent exemption from personal appearance in the case.

Badals’ close aide Harbans Lal also skipped court and sought exemption on grounds of “ill health”.  

The court accepted the exemption pleas while all the other accused on bail,except those who have been declared proclaimed offenders,were present with their counsels.

Special Judge J S Klar,while continuing the examination of 38 witnesses,also sought the versions of two civilians and an inspector of the Food and Supplies department,Lambi in Muktsar district,on their earlier statements recorded by the prosecution under Section 161 of the CrPC in September 2003.

The prosecution and defence counsel had earlier found “no incriminating evidence” against the Badals or any other accused and had termed it as a “fit case for acquittal” of the accused.

Deposing before the court,civilians Rajwinder Singh of Phase VII,Mohali,and Jaswinder Singh of Sector 21-C,Chandigarh,admitted that they had entered into an agreement over a land deal but denied any involvement of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal in the said land deal or the money transaction that reportedly took place.

They denied the VB statements,which reportedly quoted them as claiming involvement of Sukhbir in the said deal.

Food and Supplies Inspector Gurmail Singh presented the relevant official records pertaining to the sale and purchase of agriculture produce from Badal farms in Lambi between the years 1997-2002 and claimed that no wrongdoing was committed in the business.

The court summoned six new and four remaining witnesses for examination on January 29.

Over the past few months,as many as 13 witnesses were examined,of which six admitted while seven did not support the prosecution statements while another court witness was dropped for re-examination as he had earlier resiled.

On August 27 last year,the court had ordered to summon 38 witnesses under Section 311 of the CrPC for proper adjudication of the case as their statements were found to be essential.

Cash-at-judge’s-door scam: Next hearing on February 1

Chandigarh: After notices were issued to the complainant following the filing of a closure report by the CBI in the infamous judge bribery case last month,the counsel for the complainant appeared in the CBI court on Monday. Expressing his inability to file a reply as he was yet to get the closure report,the counsel applied for a certified copy of the report today.

Following this,the judge fixed the next date of hearing of the case to February 1.

The CBI had filed a cancellation report in the case on December 18 citing its inability to prosecute the accused for the want of prosecution. The report came up for hearing on December 24 following which the CBI judge had issued notices to complainant Amrik Singh.

Today,counsel for the complainant,Rajdeep Singh Cheema,appeared before the CBI court and prayed for supplying the report. The court,while directing him to apply for a certified copy,said there was no provision in CRPC wherein he could apply for a copy.

The case dates back to August last year when former Haryana Additional Advocate General Sanjeev Bansal allegedly sent a packet of Rs 15 lakh to Justice Nirmaljeet Kaur’s official bungalow. The case became public as Justice Kaur immediately called up the Chandigarh Police and handed the money to them.