Non-bailable warrants against Chahal stayed

Chandigarh, Oct 21 (UNI) The Punjab and Haryana High Court today stayed the non-bailable warrants against Bharat Inder Singh Chahal, media advisor to former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh, which were issued by the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Patiala on October 3, 2008 after he failed to appear for the ongoing hearing in a case.

After the preliminary hearing in the matter, Justice Mohinder Pal stayed the enforcement of the warrants till the petitioner surrendered and signed fresh bail bonds on or before the next date of hearing in the trial court.

Chahal had been granted bail by the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Patiala in connection with a case registered against him on June 13,2007 at police station, Kotwali, Patiala under section 406,420 IPC for alleged non-payment of bills pertaining to renovation of the kitchen of his house at Patiala. However, the same was cancelled when he failed to appear for the hearing.

It was pleaded by his counsel that the petitioner mistook the date as October 13 instead of October 3, which led to his absence from the court and that it was neither willful nor deliberate.

UNI XC HS RR BD2110