DIG denies assertions of IO in Badal case

Rupnagar, Mar 8 (UNI) DIG B K Uppal denied that the Investigating Officer (IO) in the disproportionate assets case against Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and others, Surinder Pal Singh Virk acted as per his directions.

After the DIG's deposition, the Public Prosecutor closed the prosecution evidence today in the court.

In his deposition made in the court of Special Judge G S Saran, during the hearing of the case Mr Uppal now DIG (Crime) said that he remained DIG of the Vigilance Bureau from July 2002 to February 2004 and was deputed as one of the supervisory officers for the investigation of the case.

He said he was not associated with the survey of Badal family's properties like Balasar Farm, Orbit Resort, house No 256, sector 9, Chandigarh in June 2002. However, he was associated with the survey of these properties by the technical team and Vigilance Bureau officials on November 2002 and had visited these properties.

He contended that he did not sign the inspection memo in this regard. He also stated that the decision to conduct second survey and constitute technical team was taken at the level of vigilance bureau headquarters. However he did not specify the name of the officer or officers who had taken the decision regarding the second survey.

He also said that he had no knowledge of the report regarding the survey, which might have submitted at the higher level.

Answering a court question, Mr Uppal denied that he had prepared or got dictated the statements of the witnesses of technical team and then passed on to Investigating Officer Mr Virk for his signatures.

It may be mentioned that in his deposition during the last hearing of the case Mr Virk had stated that Mr Uppal had got prepared statements of the witnesses of technical team and he (Mr Virk) had signed the same as per the directions of Mr Uppal.

During cross examination the defence counsels put a number of questions to him regarding his visits to various places including, Badals' properties on the basis of the log book of his official vehicle.

In his deposition DIG(BSF) S Chatopadhya,who is now posted at Siliguri (West Bengal) stated that when he was posted as being DIG, vigilance bureau, he had source of information regarding the income and foreign properties of Badal family and had conducted investigation in this regard. However, nothing substantive was found in this regard and he had submitted his report in this regard on October 1,2003. Therefore, no foreign property of the accused was reflected in final report submitted in the court.

After the completion of the deposition of the two officers, the Public Prosecutor closed the prosecution evidence and stated that he wanted to give up the remaining witnesses.

Thereafter, the court adjourned the case till March 27 for consideration on the fact whether to record the statements of the accused or not.

It may be mentioned that the deposition of 59 out of 138 prosecution witnesses was held in the court and 27 of them had turned hostile.

UNI XC HS SK HS2116