Akalis to meet PM on Sodhi issue

Badal said Sodhi, who is a close associate of Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, has been found guilty of accepting a bribe of Rs 25 lakh to strike a deal for a plot of land owned by the J-K government and the entire evidence is recorded on tape. ‘‘This proves that Congress middlemen are not restricted to Punjab and have spread their tentacles across all states’’, Badal said. That Sodhi’s nephew, Gurinder Singh, and Pathankot-based businessman Gurdev Singh Sidhu held meetings and the money was returned proves the guilt, Badal said.

Badal reiterated that the Chief Minister’s Office had become a den of corruption. The case also proves that the CM’s office is involved in corrupt deals in other states as well, Badal said.

The Punjab BJP president described the case as ‘‘shameful’’. He demanded that action should be taken against Sodhi and an FIR should be lodged at the earliest. ‘‘The state, which lost no time in lodging cases against the Opposition, should not hesitate when its own MLAs and functionaries have been caught’’, Avinash Rai Khanna said.

Khanna added that the case should be sent to an independent body like the CBI for an inquiry. ‘‘The fact that money was accepted and then returned has been proved’’, he said.

CPI secretary Dr Joginder Dayal said he leaves it to the Chief Minister to decide on what course he wishes to adopt in this case. Amarinder was the one who claimed he wanted to wipe out political corruption. ‘‘One should not have double standards while dealing with one’s political adversaries or while dealing with those close to you’’, Dayal remarked.

Singh, away in Andaman and Nicobar Islands to survey the damage done by the tsunami, could not be reached for comments.