The Punjab and Haryana high court on Monday directed the Chandigarh forensic science laboratory (FSL) to examine the graft compact disc (CD) against Haryana chief parliamentary secretary Ram Kishan Fauji.
The CD allegedly shows Fauji seeking 5 crore in lieu of getting the change of land use (CLU) permission for a land in Gurgaon. The CD was released by Indian National Lok Dal leaders in September last year.
The directions came during the hearing of the case before the court headed by justice Ritu Bahri when the Haryana government informed the court that it was not having mechanism to examine the CD.
Fauji’s petition challenging the Lokayukta order directing registration of case against him in the case has now been posted for hearing on August 29.
It was on January 20 that Lokayukta justice Pritam Pal (retd) had recommended registration of a criminal case against Fauji on a reference received by his office from the state government under Section 8 (1) of the Haryana Lokayukta Act.
Also, on February 11, the Lokayukta had refused to reconsider his decision after a request by the state chief secretary stating that such provision was not in the Lokayukta Act.
{{/usCountry}}Also, on February 11, the Lokayukta had refused to reconsider his decision after a request by the state chief secretary stating that such provision was not in the Lokayukta Act.
{{/usCountry}}In his petition filed before the high court, Fauji had submitted that before registration of a criminal case against him, forensic examination of the CD was important to find out whether or not the CD was concocted.
He informed the court that he had raised the same arguments before the Lokayukta, which were not considered. Fauji also alleged that the Lokayukta had surpassed his jurisdiction while passing the order.