SC puts Punjab's Dy CM Bhattal in the dock

SC rejected a Punjab Govt plea seeking fresh probe into a corruption case against Bhattal after discovery of fresh evidence.

The Supreme Court has cleared the hurdles in framing of charges against Punjab's Deputy Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal in a corruption case.

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On Monday, the court rejected a Punjab government plea seeking fresh probe into the case after the discovery of fresh receipts pertaining to the bungled money.

A Bench comprising Justice YK Sabharwal and Justice BN Agrawal dismissed the appeal filed by the state challenging a January 27 order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court refusing to stay the framing of charges against Bhattal accused of misappropriating Rs 20 lakh from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund during her brief tenure as CM in 1996.

Though the chargesheet was filed against Bhattal in November 28, 2002, the prosecution sometimes in 2003 claimed recovery of receipts pertaining to the money allegedly misappropriated by her and had sought fresh probe into it before framing of charges.

Bhattal had said the receipts proved her innocence as they accounted for the money that was spent.

When Additional Solcitor General Mukul Rohtagi said the State wanted to verify the genuineness of the receipts and suggested a fresh probe, the Bench said "finding of additional evidence depends on what are the political complexion of the State at that particular time."