Punjab, Haryana HC rejects anticipatory bail plea of more than 30 accused sarpanches

Chandigarh, January 24: The Punjab and Haryana High Court rejected anticipatory bail pleas of more than 30 accused panch-sarpanches in Rajpura IT Park compensation irregularity case. 

51 persons were named in the case so far out of which only 10 were arrested in the case. 

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Earlier, the accused who were named but were not arrested filed an anticipatory plea in the District Session Court in June 2022 to avoid the arrest but their plea was cancelled  after which they moved to Punjab and Haryana High Court demanding the anticipatory bail plea. 

Notably, the irregularities came fore in the compensation issued for acquiring about 1104 acres of Shamlat land of 5 villages. 

Advocates and legal experts stated that no other option is left but to surrender all accused to the police. 

Although the accused can still go to the Supreme Court with this petition, but after the cancellation of petition by the two lower courts, the chances of survival of the accused are very less. 

Notably, Rajpura IT project compensation was in connection with irregularities in 5 villages falling under Ghanaur Assembly Constituency of Patiala.

Besides all sarpanches and panches of 5 villages Pabra, Takhtumajra, Aakdi, Sehra and Sehri villages BDPO Shambhu , two Panchayat Secretaries and one JE have already been suspended. 

Meanwhile, the government also registered FIR against many villagers and sarpanches. 

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Earlier, the farmers of Pabra village also filed petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court alleging irregularities in the compensation on which High Court banned the withdrawal of money from the Gram Panchayat.

(Inputs by reporter Gagandeep Singh Ahuja)