A Vigilance Bureau court in Mohali on Friday acquitted Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh in the 2008 Amritsar Improvement Trust case. The court also acquitted 17 others, including former Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Dr Kewal Krishan and two former state ministers, who are now deceased, The Tribune reported.
The case relates to an alleged scam in granting exemption for transferring 32.1 acres of prime land belonging to the Amritsar Improvement Trust to a private developer.
But in October 2016, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau, which was investigating the case, filed a cancellation report before the court, and recommended that all the accused be acquitted. “Neither any mala fide [intent was shown], nor any offence committed,” the bureau said in its filing. “Also, no incriminating evidence to prove the charges whatsoever levelled had come to fore during the fresh investigation of the case.”
On Monday, Mohali Special Judge Jaswinder Singh accepted the Vigilance Bureau’s closure report, and ordered that all the accused be discharged.
Following the acquittal, Amarinder Singh said that “justice has finally prevailed”. “It’s been proved that the allegations were motivated, borne out of sheer political vendetta,” he tweeted. “Politics has no place for such motivated action against opponents. I thank the Almighty and my legal team.”
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!