Chandigarh, June 27: Beleagured Shiromani Akali Dal president Parkash Singh Badal got support from an unexpected quarter today with Punjab Congress chief H S Hanspal saying that he was not in favour of his arrest for "petty economic offences" as it would amount to "political vendatta". "Right from the beginning, I am not in favour of Badal's arrest," Hanspal told reporters here.

"In the normal course, Badal should not be arrested for petty economic offences. If he (Badal) is arrested on charges of small level economic offences, it would amount to political vendetta," he said.

On Tuesday, state vigilance bureau had registered a disproportionate assets case against Badal and some of his family members.
The former chief minister was also questioned by vigilance sleuths here in connection with a multi-crore alleged irrigation scandal.

Refuting allegations that Badal was booked in a corruption case so that Congress-supported candidates could easily win in the coming panchayat polls, Hanspal said, "It was not a pre-conceived idea to book Badal near panchayat polls."

He added, "The law will follow it's own course in the case of the Akali president."

Bureau Report