Thaindian News

Chandigarh, June 20 (IANS) The Punjab vigilance department Friday registered a fresh case of disproportionate assets against former Congress chief minister Amarinder Singh, his son Raninder Singh, former media adviser B.I.S. Chahal and five others under the Prevention of Corruption Act. They have been accused of amassing wealth beyond their known sources of income. All the accused have been asked to appear before the vigilance officials at Patiala July 6. The case was registered in Patiala.

The new case has been slapped on Amarinder accusing him of “misusing” his authority to accumulate assets across the country and abroad.

The former chief minister has been accused of buying properties in Goa, Delhi, Noida, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, around Chandigarh, the US, Canada, Britain, Sweden and Dubai. He has also been charged with possessing bank balances worth Rs.60 million against an income of only Rs.15 million.

The case has been filed against Amarinder, his son Raninder Singh, his former controversial media adviser Chahal, three unnamed senior officers and two unnamed private people.

Raninder has been charged with employing illegal means to channel money to foreign countries.

Amarinder reacted immediately to the new case, saying that he was being targeted by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Akali Dal president Sukhbir Badal to settle political scores.

Amarinder had got the father and son booked in 2002 in corruption cases and both were even arrested.

“This is a desperate move by the Badals and their friends in the Punjab Congress to scuttle my return to active politics in Punjab,” Amarinder said.

This is the second major case against Amarinder and his close associates by the Akali government. Earlier, he was charged with involvement in the multi-million Ludhiana City Centre scam.