Arrest Warrant Against Former Punjab Minister Manpreet Singh Badal In Corruption Case

During his tenure as a minister within the Congress government, Manpreet Singh Badal is accused of misusing his position to convert two commercial plots into residential plot for personal gain.

An arrest warrant was issued against former finance minister of Punjab Manpreet Singh Badal on Tuesday in connection with a corruption case. This move comes in the wake of a lookout circular (LOC) previously issued against him in relation to alleged irregularities surrounding the acquisition of a property in Bathinda, according to a senior official from the Punjab Vigilance Bureau cited by news agency PTI. It followed extensive raids conducted by teams from the Punjab Vigilance Bureau at Badal's residence in Muktsar.

The corruption case in question pertains to the purchase of property in Bathinda by Manpreet Singh Badal, who, earlier this year, switched allegiance from the Congress party to the BJP. Additionally, five others find themselves implicated in the case, including Bikramjit Shergill, the former chief administrator of the Bathinda Development Authority (BDA), along with Rajiv Kumar, Amandeep Singh, Vikas Arora, and Pankaj, PTI reported.

Notably, Rajiv Kumar, Amandeep Singh, and Vikas Arora have already been taken into custody.

Corruption Case Against Manpreet Singh Badal Based On 2021 Complaint

This case is traced back to a complaint filed by former MLA Sarup Chand Singla in 2021, who alleged irregularities in the acquisition of the property, strategically located in Bathinda. Singla, who is currently affiliated with the BJP and was formerly associated with the Shiromani Akali Dal, claimed that Manpreet Singh Badal, during his tenure as a minister within the Congress government, had misused his position to convert two commercial plots into a residential plot for personal gain.

The case registered against the former finance minister includes charges under pertinent sections of the Indian Penal Code, notably Sections 420 (cheating) and 468 (forgery), in addition to provisions within the Prevention of Corruption Act.

During the course of the investigation, it emerged that Badal had allegedly exploited his official position to secure the acquisition of two plots, covering an area of 1,560 square yards in Model Town phase-1 Bathinda. This, in turn, resulted in substantial financial losses to the state exchequer, according to findings by the vigilance bureau, PTI reported.

Furthermore, it was determined that Badal had purportedly colluded with BDA officials, employing deceptive tactics to hinder public participation in the 2021 plot bidding process. Allegedly, fake maps were uploaded to obstruct the transparency of the bidding procedure, as revealed by the bureau's inquiry.

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