Cong MLAs move SC for shifting of CM's case

Jalandhar, Mar 28 (UNI) Punjab Congress MLAs have filed a petition in the Supreme Court for shifting of disproportionate assets case against Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal and his family members to outside the state.

Speaking to mediapersons here today, Congress MLA from Bolath Sukhpal Singh Khaira said he, along with three other MLAs had filed a petition in the apex court for shifting of corruption and disproportionate assets case involving Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal, his wife Surinder Kaur and son Sukhbir Badal, who is Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president, presently undertrial in Mohali court, to outside Punjab.

''Free and fair trial is not possible in Punjab as Chief Minister himself holds the portfolio of Home Ministry and could turn the case in his favour,''he alleged.

Demanding a retrial in the case, he urged the High Court to take a suo moto notice as out of 138 witnesses, 58 had already turned hostile.

In the petition, the MLAs, including Jeet Mohinder Singh, Mangat Ram Bansal and Gurpreet Singh Khangar apart from Mr Khaira, had also demanded a stay on the proceedings in the trial court till the matter was decided by the Supreme Court and a probe by Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) in the remaining part of the investigations in the case, which was yet to be completed.

Demanding resignation of Punjab Attorney General Hardev Singh Mattewal, Mr Khaira alleged that Mr Mattewal, who is the head of prosecution, would not be able to do justice with his job as earlier he was the Badal family's defence lawyer.

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