Bhattal charged with graft

Bathinda-based advocate Balwant Singh Dhillon, the main complainant, had accused Bhattal of misappropriating Rs 20 lakh from the CM’s Relief Fund. Alleging that she was ‘‘tampering with evidence’’, the complainant also sought cancellation of Bhattal’s bail.

Before signing the papers for a trial, the Deputy CM delivered an emotional statement to the judge calling the case ‘‘fabricated’’. She said: ‘‘I am being victimised like the famous freedom fighter Seva Singh Thikriwala.’’

She slammed Amarinder government for being an utter failure in ‘‘protecting me’’. Alleging that the public prosecutor worked against her despite the fact that the government had the receipts for which she is being held guilty, she said: ‘‘The public prosecutor did not say a word,’’ adding, ‘‘I never expected any help from the government at any stage.’’

Though she refused to say whether she would approach a higher court, she minced no words in declaring her intention to remain in active politics. ‘‘Various courts have already framed charges against L.K. Advani, Capt Amarinder Singh and Parkash Singh Badal. Framing of charges does not mean indictment,’’ Bhattal declared. She also claimed the charges would have no bearing on the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The DyCM claimed the government and the complainant had no evidence and were wasting the court’s time by making her stand trial. Her counsel also pleaded that the money had gone to the needy and could not be construed as corruption.

However, the judge observed that this contention had already been rejected by the High Court. The HC had recently rejected petitions by Bhattal and the Punjab Government, seeking stay on framing of charges in the lower court following recovery of certain receipts. The judge also rejected an application of the complainant in which he requested that the receipts be sent to a Nashik forensic lab to check their authenticity.