Drug case: Amarinder Singh dismisses Badal`s charge

Former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh dismissed his successor Parkash Singh Badal`s charge that he was interfering in the investigation into the recent drug haul by demanding a judicial probe.

Chandigarh: Former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh on Saturday dismissed his successor Parkash Singh Badal`s charge that he was interfering in the investigation into the recent drug haul by demanding a judicial probe.

Reiterating his demand for a probe by a High Court judge, Amarinder said it had become more important as the name of an Akali MLA had figured in the racket. "Why is Badal running away from a judicial probe?" he asked adding "this is not an allegation made by us but is the revelation of a senior Akali leader about his own party MLA." "Can anybody expect Badal to be impartial under such circumstances?" asked Amarinder. Praising police for busting the drug racket, he said a credible and transparent probe by a sitting High Court judge was a must. Amarinder accused Badal of trying to politicise a serious issue concerning Punjab`s future generations. He said given the seriousness and enormity of the issue it would be in everybody`s interest to have a judicial probe into the matter. The Punjab Police had recently busted a massive drug racket seizing 600 kg of chemicals. Arjuna awardee wrestler Jagdish Bhola and his four associates had been arrested in connection with the seizure.