Streetlight Scam: Punjab & Haryana HC Grants Anticipatory Bail To Former OSD To State's Ex-CM Captain Amarinder Singh

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today granted anticipatory bail to the former Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the state's former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, who has been booked in the alleged streetlight scam involving Rs. 65 lacs.

The bench of Justice Gurvinder Singh Gill noted that though the petitioner (Sandeep Singh Sandhu) was the OSD to the former State CM, however, on the date of occurrence, he was not holding any office and since the CM had resigned by then, it can't be said that he exercised any kind of undue influence.

With this, the bench ordered that the petitioner Sandeep Singh Sandhu, and two other accused, in the event of their arrest, be released on bail subject to their furnishing personal bonds and surety bonds to the satisfaction of Arresting/Investigating Officer. 2 other accused have been granted regular bail in the case.

As per the allegations against Sandhu, he influenced the deal of buying streetlights (for the purpose of their installation in 26 villages of Sidhwan Bet) for more than double the rate, and in the said deal, he received financial benefits to the tune of several lakhs.

It has also been alleged that the streetlights were of substandard quality and even less number of lights were installed than the numbers shown in the official record.

The FIR in the case was registered in September 2022 and in total 5 accused have been booked under Sections 13(1)(A)(2) read with Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and Sections 409, 120-B, 465, 467, 468 and 471 of Indian Penal Code.

Moving to the HC seeking anticipatory, Sandhu argued that he had been roped in the case out of political vendetta as he had nothing to do with the deal.

On the other hand, the state argued that being close to the former CM of the state, Sandhu exercised his influence in getting the contract in favor of the petitioner Gaurav Sharma at exorbitant rates and all the accused had shared the profit so earned by dubious means.

Against this backdrop, considering the arguments of both parties, the Court thought it fit to grant the benefit of anticipatory bail to Sandhu by observing thus:

"Though petitioner Sandeep Singh Sandhu is stated to have remained as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) of the former Chief Minister, Punjab but as on the date of occurrence, he was not holding any office and even the Chief Minister had resigned on 18.9.2021 i.e. much prior to occurrence. In these circumstances, it cannot be said that the petitioners Sandeep Singh Sandhu and Harpreet Singh were holding any position to have exercised any kind of undue influence."

Senior Advocate Bipan Ghai along with Advocates Nikhil Ghai, Paras Talwar, and Rishabh Singla appeared for Sandhu.

Case title - Sandeep Singh Sandhu vs. State of Punjab along with connected matters

Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (PH) 3

Case Citation:

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