Industrial land for real estate: Former minister Arora withdraws bail plea from high court

The bail plea was taken up by the bench of justice Raj Mohan Singh and upon being questioned as to why he has approached high court directly, the minister decided to withdrew the plea

: Former industries minister Sunder Sham Arora on Tuesday withdrew anticipatory bail plea from Punjab and Haryana high court filed in connection with an FIR registered by the vigilance bureau against him and 10 government officers, including an IAS, on January 5.

Industrial land for real estate: Former minister Arora withdraws bail plea from high court (Getty Images)

The allegations were of illegal transfer of an industrial plot to a real estate company and allowing it to establish a township in Phase-9 industrial area, Mohali.

The bail plea was taken up by the bench of justice Raj Mohan Singh and upon being questioned as to why he has approached high court directly, the minister decided to withdrew the plea. The court allowed withdrawal of the plea with liberty to approach the trial court. Detailed order is awaited.

The plea alleges political victimisation at the hands of incumbent government and had sought interim protection from the arrest in fresh FIR. Arora, arrested on October 16, is already behind bars in a bribery case. The high court had also listed his bail plea for pronouncement in the FIR registered in October. However, later it deferred hearing for January 25.

The fresh case registered on January 5 is under section 13 (1) (a), 13 (2) of The Prevention of Corruption Act, criminal breach of trust, cheating, forgery, criminal conspiracy at vigilance bureau police station, Mohali.

As per vigilance bureau, during the probe till now, it has been found that if this plot was to be sold as per the rules, the government would have got a revenue of ₹600 to ₹700 crore.