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| | Former Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, who is accused of allegedly receiving kickbacks in the infamous Ludhiana Improvement Trust scam, has said that he is “ready and willing” to appear before any police officer or court and has asked Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to let him know where he should present himself for arrest.
Talking to Hindustan Times on phone from London, Amarinder ruled out possibilities of seeking a pre arrest bail and said that he had written another letter to Badal expressing his willingness to appear before any officer or court. “Badal should let me know where I have to appear and I would be there to offer myself for arrest,” he said adding that he was likely to return to India in the first week of April. “I might be back on April 2 or 3,” he said.
In his letter, the copy of which is available with HT, Amarinder has reminded Badal that during his tenure he had specifically directed the investigating agencies not to arrest Badal during the course of investigations. “It was a conscious decision as I thought this would initiate a much needed political convention,” he said adding that it was up to Badal now to choose his norms.
Accusing Badal of unleashing a “reign of terror” on Congress workers, Amarinder said, “While you have been harping on no vendetta, the reverse has started happening and that too, at a speed, which clearly indicates that your government has a one point agenda”.
Maintaining that it was he who had ordered an inquiry into the LIT scam, Amarinder said though he had received the report close to the elections, he deferred action on it in order to allow the new government to take a decision. “What is now being done is in classic cloak and dagger style. Selective information is being leaked to the press to achieve the objective of vilification of political opponents”, he said.
Claiming that the registration of the FIR against him was intentionally timed with his departure abroad for medical treatment to create a perception that he had escaped from the country, Amarinder reiterated that he was willing to face the case. “Both you and your son have on a number of occasions, within the Vidhan Sabha and in press conferences, stated clearly that you would put me in jail on your taking over the government, which it seems is now your intention”, he said.
Meanwhile, sources in the Vigilance Bureau claimed that though the option of arresting Amarinder was open, it was still not certain whether it would be done. “We may only call him for questioning and if he joins the investigations, we might not arrest him as of now,” said an officer on condition of anonymity. “It would be a political decision,” he said adding that Amarinder’s arrest may give the impression of the government indulging in political vendetta, which the Chief Minister might not like to convey. Even the decision to search Amarinder's house, Moti Bagh Palace, might be put on hold for the same reason, the officer indicated. Email author: rthukral@hindustantimes.com |
