Two more prosecution witnesses turn hostile in Badal case

Rupnagar, Jan 4 (UNI) Two more prosecution witnesses in the disproportionate assets case against Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal turned hostile during the recording of prosecution evidence in the court of Rupnagar special Judge G S Saran today.

With this, total 27 out of 52 prosecution witnesses have turned hostile in the case so far.

Today three prosecution witnesses Jit Singh of Bharhi Mansa (Sangrur), IG Railway police, Patiala Gurinder Pal Singh and personal mafnager, State Bank of India, Main branch, Ambala R S Chohan deposed in the court.

Gurinder Pal Singh and Jit Singh turned hostile while R S Chohan supported the prosecution version.

In his deposition, Jit Singh maintained that he had not given any statement to the Vigilance Bureau on July 25, 2003 and had no relations or nearness with Sukhbir Singh Badal and his family.

During cross examination, Jit Singh claimed that he had made the statement before Sub Divisional Judicial Magistrate, Kharar on November 14, 2003 under pressure of police that he should give the statement otherwise a case would be registered against him.

In his deposition IG Gurinder Pal Singh also denied that he along with Jit Singh had met Sukhbir Singh Badal at his house in village Badal and paid Rs five lakh for getting his posting as DIG after promotion and that Sukhbir Badal had talked on telephone to Parkash Singh Badal and assured that his work would be done.

He also said that he had made statement in the court of SDM, Kharar on November 13, 2003 as per the directions of the DGP Punjab Sidiqi, who had given him the copy of the statement recorded under section 161 CrPC in the case and had asked him to make similar statement in the court.

He further said he was taken to court by the police and was under pressure that his promotion course would be terminated if he did not make statement in the court and his ACR could also be damaged.

The court also asked questions to both witnesses of the prosecution regarding their statements.

The third witness RS Chohan said he was branch manager, SBI, Model town branch, Karnal in August, 2003. The police had come to their branch in connection with this case and accordingly he had written a letter addressed to DSP Vigilance Bureau of Punjab, Chandigarh under his signature.

After the completion of the deposition the Public prosecutor stated that he had given up the prosecution witnesses Kuldip Singh, Bharat Shah, Amolak Singh and Surinderpal Mitra on the basis of police request as they would not support the prosecution case.

He said he wanted to examine the prosecution witnesses Jatinder Singh, constable Paramjit Singh, Investigating Officer Surinder Pal Singh, SP Amarjit Singh, SP Jagdish Singh Kahlon, DIG BK Uppal, IG S Chatopadhya only.

The court has fixed January 18 as next date for further prosecution evidence.

UNI XC JN KK MSJ KP2106