Chandigarh, Jan 22: A local court today deferred the framing of charges against Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal till January 28 in an alleged case of misappropriation of Rs 20 lakh from the cm's relief fund against her during her tenure as Chief Minister in 1996. Additional district and sessions judge R S Baswana while admitting two applications from Bhattal's counsel seeking deferring the framing of charges against her in the case and seeking her personal exemption, adjourned the case.
Bhattal's counsel pleaded that Punjab and Haryana High Court had on January 19 reserved its judgement on two petitions seeking a stay on framing of charges in the alleged misappropriation case and the "order was likely to be pronounced shortly".
"The arguments have been concluded in the high court and the verdict can come anytime this week," the counsel said.
The high court had reserved its verdict on two petitions filed by Bhattal and the Punjab government following recovery of certain receipts, which had earlier gone missing.
Bhattal's counsel also sought her personal exemption on the ground that she had been summoned by Congress high command in New Delhi. "She had to fly by a helicopter this morning which had to land in Delhi before 12 noon due to security reasons on the Republic Day eve." Bureau Report