Former finance minister of Punjab now under a lookout circular

Punjab's former finance minister and BJP leader, Manpreet Singh Badal, is now under a lookout circular (LOC) at all airports, issued by the state Vigilance Bureau(VB).

Badal, who switched from Congress to BJP in January, is embroiled in a corruption case involving the purchase of two plots in Model Town Phase-1, Bathinda. The case alleges violations under Section 420, 467, 468, 471, and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code and Section 13 (1) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, along with the Information Technology Act.

Badal withdrew his anticipatory bail application following the registration of the criminal case. He plans to explore legal avenues, including approaching the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Badal is among six individuals accused of manipulating records of the Bathinda Development Authority (BDA) to acquire prime location sites. Three of his associates namely Rajiv Kumar of New Shakti Nagar, Amandeep Singh of Lal Singh Basti, and Vikas Arora of Tagore Nagar, involved in the plot bidding have been arrested.

Complaint was registered by Saroop Chand Singla, former MLA of Bathinda city. VB investigation alleges that Badal, during his tenure as finance minister from 2018 to 2021, used political influence to acquire the plots, causing significant financial losses to the state exchequer.

Report By Aman Arya

Graphics by Devika