‘Backache’: Manpreet skips VB questioning

Bathinda/Chandigarh: Former Punjab finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal failed to appear before the state vigilance bureau in Bathinda on Monday. Manpreet claimed that he was suffering from backache and was not in a condition to turn up before the probe agency.Manpreet’s counsel Sukhdeep Singh Bhinder, however, visited the vigilance bureau office and handed over the medical report of the BJP leader to the officials concerned. Sukhdeep Singh also surrendered Manpreet’s passport.As per the medical report issued by the PGIMER, Chandigarh, Manpreet has been advised bed rest for a week.The vigilance bureau had called Manpreet on Monday in a Prevention of Corruption case registered against half a dozen persons, including the senior leader. It is learnt that the vigilance bureau may summon him again after a week. Sukhdeep Singh said as per the interim bail provided to Manpreet Badal by the high court, he had been directed to surrender the passport and join the investigations.As Manpreet is suffering from spinal issues, he has been advised bed rest by doctors at the PGIMER and he is taking rest at his Chandigarh residence, said the counsel. We have requested the vigilance bureau to give us 10 days or if there is any emergency then the vigilance bureau officials can go to his Chandigarh residence for investigations, he added.While providing interim bail to Manpreet, the high court had fixed the next hearing for December 7.The Punjab and Haryana high court had on October 16 granted anticipatory bail to Manpreet in the case with the directions to join the investigation.The former finance minister had mentioned in his petition before the high court that he was being targeted and entangled in the investigation due to chief minister Bhagwant Mann’s political intervention and the CM had declared publicly that he would fix the petitioner in a criminal case. Earlier on October 4, the Bathinda trial court had dismissed Manpreet’s anticipatory bail petition.The Punjab Police had issued a look out circular against Manpreet and he was on the run till the high court granted him anticipatory bail.Manpreet has been accused of causing loss to the tune of Rs 65 lakh to the state exchequer in the purchase of two plots measuring 1,560 square yards under the jurisdiction of Bathinda municipal corporation. The senior leader was booked at the vigilance bureau police station, Bathinda, on September 24 under the Prevention of Corruption Act and relevant sections of the IPC.