Bhattal Free Of Corruption Charges

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MaaPeya Da LaaDLa
Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee chief Rajinder Kaur Bhattal on Saturday was relieved of corruption charges that embroiled her in a seven-year-long legal battle.
Accepting the prosecution's withdrawal application, the court of special vigilance, judge Raj Rahul Garg, acquitted her in the case moved by advocate Balwant Singh Dhillon in May, 2001. Dhillon had levelled charges of misappropriation of Rs 20 lakh from chief minister's relief fund against Bhattal during her tenure as CM.
While the decision came after hearing arguments on the withdrawal petition on March 26, Dhillon's counsel advocate AS Chahal said, "We will challenge this decision in the high court by filing a revision petition."
While arguing the plea, the public prosecutor, representing Punjab vigilance bureau, said that all receipts with regard to the Rs 20 lakh in question were found and they were genuine and so the case against the accused should be withdrawn. Referring to an apex court judgment, defence counsel, senior advocate Baldev Singh, maintained that the public prosecutor could withdraw the case at any stage and move an application under Section 321 of CrPC.
The corruption charges against Bhattal were framed in December, 2003. However, in November, 2006, the vigilance department submitted an investigation report under Section 173 (8) of CrPC.
Following it, another application was filed by it under Section 321 of CrPC (withdrawal from prosecution of the accused), stating that since receipts had been found and they were genuine, no offence of criminal breach of trust or misappropriation under Section 409 of IPC and Section 13 of Prevention of Corruption Act were made against Bhattal.
 
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