HC grants bail to ex-Minister Vijay Singla's aide Pradeep Kumar
Chandigarh, July 28: The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday granted bail to Pradeep Kumar, a close aide of sacked Punjab minister Vijay Singla.
Former Minister Vijay Singla and his OSD were both arrested on the same day.
Pradeep's lawyer presenting his argument before the High Court stated that the "chargesheet has been filed and the challan has also been submitted. Apart from this, the accused has consented to provide a voice sample. So Pradeep has no reason to be in jail."
After deliberating on the argument, the Punjab and Haryana High Court granted bail to the co-accused in Vijay Singla's corruption case.
Meanwhile, the Mohali police on Monday filed a chargesheet against former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) cabinet minister Dr Vijay Singla, who was sacked and arrested following corruption allegations in May. Singla was recently released on bail.
The chargesheet has been filed in a local court under Sections 7 (offence relating to public servant being bribed) and 8 (offence relating to bribing of a public servant) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. It has been filed by deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Bikramjit Singh Brar, who is investigating the case.
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The Mohali police had arrested then health minister Vijay Singla on corruption charges on May 24. The action came following orders of chief minister Bhagwant Mann. The minister’s OSD, Pardeep Kumar, was also arrested as it was alleged that Singla asked for the bribe money through him, said senior superintendent of police (SSP), Mohali, Vivek Sheel Soni.
Mann had dismissed Dr Singla for allegedly seeking commission for allotment of funds in government tenders. Initially, 2% commission was sought against the total amount of ₹58 crore, amounting to ₹1.16 crore, but the complainant refused, according to the FIR.
Subsequently, when 1% commission was sought as bribe for tenders, the complainant offered ₹5 lakh to escape harassment and also recorded the audio. This audio clip reached the CM, prompting the action.
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-PTC News
