Chandigarh, July 18
In a major reprieve for forest minister in the previous Congress government, Sangat Singh Gilzian, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today stayed his arrest in a corruption case. Justice Lisa Gill made it clear that the order would remain in operation only till July 25, the next date of hearing.
Appearing on his behalf before Justice Gill’s Bench, senior advocate RS Rai submitted that the offences alleged in the FIR dated June 6 were not made out with regard to the petitioner. It was also contended that that there was clear violation of Section 17-A of the Prevention of Corruption Act as the FIR was registered on the basis of disclosure statement made by the accused in another FIR dated June 2. The investigating officer in that FIR was surprisingly the complainant in the case against the petitioner.
He added the present FIR was nothing but an exercise of political vendetta against the petitioner, who remained a minister in the previous regime from September 26, 2021, to January 8, 2022, when the model code of conduct was notified.
Rai further submitted that the petitioner had nothing to do with Kulwinder Singh, to whom some amount was alleged to have been handed over by a contractor, who was an accused in the other FIR.
Referring to the allegations regarding purchase of “tree guards”, Rai submitted the prosecution itself was unsure even about the numbers. At the first instance, there was a reference in the FIR to 80,000 “tree guards” to be purchased. Thereafter, approximately 2,400 “tree guards” were mentioned.
HC grants interim bail to ex-minister Gilzian
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