CM shielding corrupt police officer : Nadda

Shimla, Jun 4 (UNI) Senior BJP leader J P Nadda has accused Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh of shielding a senior corrupt police official against whom the Punjab Police has issued a non-bailable arrest warrant yesterday.

''The police officer concerned has been handling sensitive departments like CID and law and order despite having a warrant against him for sometime now and this is due the protection provided to him by the chief minister,'' Mr Nadda said in a release here.

Without naming the officer, he said the chief minister should explain why the officer concerned was not being arrested and handed over to the Punjab Police after it had registered several cases against him in that state.

Mr Nadda, a former state minister, said law should be allowed to take its own course and every body should be equal before law.

''I demand an explanation from the chief minister for not taking any action in this case. The common man has lost faith in the present government with the chief minister failing to reign in vested interests who are ruling the roost in the state,'' he added.

Mr Singh in his present tenure has been protecting and encouraging corrupt elements and despite his repeated pleas against graft practices and individuals, the state government has not taken any action, Mr Nadda said.

''What governance can we expect from the Chief Minister who is shielding a top police officer against whom the Patiala Punjab Police has issued a Non-Bail able Warrant (NBW) under sections 420 and 476 of IPC ?'' he questioned.

UNI AS HS MA PM1902