Three prosecution witnesses depose in Badal case

Rupnagar, Oct 9 (UNI) Three prosecution witnesses in the disproportionate assets case against Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and others deposed in the court of special Judge G S Saran today .

The prosecution witnesses who deposed in the court today include Punjab and Sind Bank Morinda manager Lakhbir Singh, Bank's sector 34 Chandigarh branch senior manager Harinder Singh and Punjab and National Bank, Pitampura(Delhi) Manager Arvind Parkash Garg.

Lakhbir Singh and Harinder Singh were posted as managers in Punjab and Sind Bank sector-17B branch Chandigarh in 2003 while Arvind Parkash Garg was posted as senior manager in Punjab national Bank sector 17-C, Chandigarh in 2003.

All the three supported the prosecution version and stood by their statement given to Punjab Vigilance Bureau.

They presented the records about the bank accounts of Parkash Singh Badal, Surinder Kaur Badal and Sukhbir Singh Badal and their companies like Orbit Resorts, Dabwali Transport Co Pvt.Ltd, Continental Hatcheries Pvt.Ltd. and loans procured by them from the banks.

The deposition of fourth prosecution witness, Deputy Director Horticulture Tek Chand could not be held today and the same was put off till tomorrow, when four more prosecution witnesses would depose in the court.

With the deposition of these three witnesses, the number of prosecution witnesses who have deposed in the case has gone up to 31.

District Attorney Pradeep Mehta appeared on behalf of prosecution while battery of lawyers including Vikram Chaudhary, Harmohan Singh Paul, Satnam Singh Kaler, Paramjit Singh Brar, Amar Raj Saini, and Amrit Lal Verma appeared on behalf of defence.

All the accused except Parkash Singh Badal and Surinder Kaur Badal appeared in the court during the hearing of the case.Badal sought exemption from personal appearance through his counsel which was granted by the court.

UNI