Senior Akali leader acquitted in graft case after eight years

After an eight-year trial, senior Akali leader and former agriculture minister Gurdev Singh Badal was on Tuesday acquitted by a local court of charges of amassing assets disproportionate to his income.

Ludhiana: After an eight-year trial,
senior Akali leader and former agriculture minister Gurdev
Singh Badal was on Tuesday acquitted by a local court of charges of
amassing assets disproportionate to his income, embezzling
funds and promoting officials in violation of rules.
Additional Sessions Judge J S Chouhan held that the
prosecution had failed to prove the charges levelled against
Badal, who had been elected to the Punjab Assembly for a
record 11th time from the Panj Guraian assembly constituency
(Faridkot).

The Vigilance Bureau had claimed that the former
minister had amassed wealth of Rs 1.07 crores disproportionate
to his known sources of income.

It was alleged that 135 employees had benefited from
the scam, in which promotions were allegedly made by
ex-minister.

It was alleged that at least 18 employees, including
Joint Directors, Deputy Directors and several Chief
Agriculture Officers, were given promotions at the former
minister`s behest in violation of the laid-down procedures and
rules.
A case was registered against him here at Sadar police
station by Vigilance Bureau, Patiala under various sections of
Prevention of Corruption Act.

PTI

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