Punjab Govt moves SC for quashing pre-arrest bails

The Punjab Goverment on Wednesday moved the Supreme Court seeking quashing of the anticipatory bails granted by the Punjab and Haryana High Court to the son and son-in-law of former Chief Minister Amrinder Singh allegedly involved in the Ludhiana City Centre scandal.

In a special leave petition, the state Government submitted that granting of anticipatory bail to Raninder Singh and Raminder Singh Thakker would seriously jeopardise the investigations by the Vigilance Bureau.

The state government complained that the anticipatory bails were granted by a single judge of the Punjab & Haryana High Court on May 24, without giving any proper opportunity or notice to the state government which was investigating the alleged trade centre scandal involving a staggering Rs 2000 crore public money.

According to the SLP, the High Court granted the bail on the mere premise that the investigations appeared to be an outcome of political overtones.

The state pleaded that the accused can be granted bail only after the investigations had been completed and chargesheet filed as the gravity of the offence allegedly committed by them were of a "serious nature."

However, the SLP did not challenge the anticipatory bail granted to Amrinder Singh on April 5, as a recall petition was filed in the High Court.

Punjab's Additional Advovcate General Krishan Khurana told PTI that the SLP against the son and son-in-law was filed as the High Court had granted the anticipatory bail by way of a final order.

Whereas, in the case of Amrinder Singh it was in the form of an interim relief and the same was listed for hearing before the High Court on July 30, he said.