A day after the Punjab Vigilance Bureau filed a closure report in the Ludhiana City Centre scam case, in which Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh was one of the accused, Leader of the Opposition and Aam Aadmi Party MLA Sukhpal Khaira on Sunday called it a “manipulated and procured” acquittal.
“The submission of the closure report explains the bonhomie between the Captain Amarinder and Badal families. It’s a manipulated and procured acquittal,” he said.
Mr. Khaira said the case was filed in 2007. In all, 36 people, including Captain Amarinder Singh and his son, were named. “After 10 years, spending a huge sum from the exchequer, the prosecution now says no irregularity has been found. If this is not the mockery of the judicial system, what is it,” he asked.
Irrigation and Power Minister Rana Gurjeet Singh criticised Mr. Khaira for opposing the clean chit given to the Chief Minister. He said Mr. Khaira should remember his statements between 2007 and 2015, in which he had said the case was registered by the Badals out of vendetta. “Facts do not change with the changeover of fences,” he said.
