Prosecution witness backtracks in Badal case

Rupnagar, Jan 18 (UNI) The disproportionate assets case against Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and others took a curious turn today when the prosecution witness Balwant Singh, stated in his deposition before the court of special Judge G S Saran, that he had not moved any application or affidavit regarding the properties of the Badal family.

In his deposition Balwant Singh of Mansa district a complainant in the case admitted that he had signed the application and affidavit regarding the properties of the Badal family. However during cross examination he stated that he had knowledge about the properties of Parkash Singh Badal and his family and had not moved any application/ affidavit regarding the property of Badal family to any body.

He stated that he had no personal knowledge about the contents of the application and affidavit.He said he was called by former media adviser Bharat Inder Singh Chahal, who obtained his signatures.

Balwant Singh stated that he was having power of attorney of Chahal, therefore he (Chahal) had been taking his signatures for various purposes like management of land and sale of vehicles.

Besides Balwant Singh three other prosecution witnesses Punjab State Electricity Board SP Vigilance Amarjit Singh, Constable Paramjit Singh and SP (D) Ferozepur Jagdish Singh Kahlon also deposed in the court and supported the prosecution version.

Amarjit Singh said that in year 2003 he was posted as SP vigilance Bureau. In August 2003 he along with the technical team had visited the Continent Hatchery Pallanpur for assessment.

Jagdish Singh Kahlon denied that he had prepared any report when he was in the Vigilance Bureau regarding the case and maintained that he had signed the report at the instance of a DIG. The court fixed February 5 as next date for further prosecution evidence.

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