Former Haryana MLA Satwinder Rana arrested in liquor theft case

CHANDIGARH: The Haryana police have arrested former MLA Satwinder Rana in connection with a case related to theft of liquor from a sealed godown in Panipat district during lockdown.
The development is also embarrassing for the deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala-led Jannayak Janata Party (JJP), as Rana had unsuccessfully contested 2019 state assembly polls on JJP ticket from Kalayat assembly segment in Kaithal district.
According to the available information, Satwinder Rana was arrested by the Panipat police from sector-3 Chandigarh based MLA hostel on Wednesday late night. An FIR in relation to the case was registered by Samalakha police in Panipat district few days back and Rana’s arrest was outcome of the lead received by the police during investigation of that case.
The liquor worth around Rs 85 lakh was stolen from a liquor godown in Samalakha area of Panipat district during lockdown period. At that time the godown was sealed by the state authorities in view of ban of liquor sale in the state. Rana was one of the partners in the godown.
A former Congress leader, Rana had served as MLA in 1996 and 2005 from Rajaund assembly segment in Kaithal district. However, after the delimitation of constituencies, he had shifted his constituency to Kalka in Panchkula district.