Khanna concocted facts

CHANDIGARH, Oct 15: Continuing the arguments in the V.K. Khanna case before the Punjab and Haryana High Court today, the counsel for Punj...

CHANDIGARH, Oct 15: Continuing the arguments in the V.K. Khanna case before the Punjab and Haryana High Court today, the counsel for Punjab defended the state8217;s action in charge-sheeting Khanna for having entrusted cases against senior IAS officers to the CBI without bringing it to the knowledge of the new government and the chief minister-elect.

Contending on behalf of the Punjab Government before a Division Bench of the court comprising Justice J.L. Gupta and Justice N.C. Khichi, noted Delhi lawyer Rajinder Sachar, said that Khanna as chief secretary should have consulted the new government in handing over the cases to CBI, since it is the duty of an officer to put forth the points before the government. He accused him of concealing the fact about the CBI cases with an aim to prevent the present government from rescinding the notification in the matter.

Punjab8217;s counsel contended that the state wanted such enquiries to be conducted by the state Vigilance Department, as it felt that the CBI was not more honest than the Vigilance department. The court also asked about the relationship between Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and chief secretary R.S. Mann, to which it was stated that the CM8217;s mother was first cousin of Mann8217;s father.

Terming Khanna8217;s action as unbecoming of a public servant, the counsel for Punjab government questioned Khanna8217;s quot;abnormalquot; behaviour in handling the matter, as he had not only acted in haste but had also acted against an officer whom he knew was close to the chief minister-elect.

Confronting Sachar with the argument if an official could go against the orders of the chief minister, the judges felt Khanna8217;s actions were consistent, to which Sachar replied that it was not every time the CMs order had to be carried out in different circumstances.

Citing media reports appearing in different newspapers, the state8217;s counsel also alleged that the chief secretary R.S. Mann was misquoted in newspaper reports about proposed action against Khanna following his acts. This, however, has not been denied by the state in any of its replies so far.

The arguments in the case would continue tomorrow.