Punjab VB submits 'challan' against BIS Chahal

Patiala, Jan 4 (UNI) Punjab Vigilance Bureau today presented a challan against Bharat Inder Singh Chahal, media advisor to former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh in the court of session judge Inderjit Singh here in disproportionate assets case registered against him.

The prosecution claimed that Chahal during his tenure as media advisor to former CM had raised assets worth Rs.10,02,95,076 whereas his total income during that period was Rs 1,87,33881.

The VB also named ten other accused in the case registered under sections 8,9,13,14 and 288 of Prevention of Corruption Act and 120 B of IPC.

The others named in the challan included Chahal's son Bikramjit Singh, wife Jaswinder Kaur, Dr Parveen Puri, Surjit Singh and Bhupinder Singh of village Barsat, Gursharan Singh and Jasbir Singh both of village Kamalpur in Ludhiana district, Gurmit Singh, a resident of US and Jaswinder Pal Singh of Delhi.

The next date of hearing for the case was fixed for January 17.

Vigilance Bureau had registered a disproportionate assets case against B I S Chahal, former media advisor to Capt Amarinder Singh, on July 11, 2007.

The challan said Chahal's assets were worth crores. These included Rs 94 lakh hard cash in form of fixed and bank deposits and property. He still owns a Vijay Super scooter, which was his only possession before coming to power.

The properties of Chahal that have been listed by the police include about 20 acres of land in Bathinda district worth about Rs 2 crore.

He also owns one kanal house at Mohali that he has rented out to a multinational company, and a three-bedroom flat on the prestigious Tilak Marg in New Delhi.

UNI XC JN SHB AS1732