Bail for Virk, court rap for Vigilance

Pronouncing the order, Justice H S Bhalla of the High Court took the Vigilance Bureau to task, raising significant questions on every allegation levelled by them. “Do you follow this procedure of not informing the state concerned about the arrest of an individual, or is Virk an exception?” asked the judge, when the investigating agency finally admitted on Wednesday that the Maharashtra Government was never informed about Virk’s arrest.

Calling Virk an absconder, Punjab Law Officer Reeta Kohli submitted that circumstances vary from case to case.

On the Vigilance Bureau’s allegation that Virk had extensively renovated Chimney Heights Resort at Zirakpur, the court asked: “Why don’t you demolish it if no permission was sought from PUDA? Why has the investigating agency not taken any action in this regard?”

The two accused have also been directed to surrender their passports and make themselves available to the investigating agency as and when required. The court also directed them not to leave the country without seeking prior permission of the Vigilance Bureau.