Chandigarh: Giving a major relief to Bharat Inder Singh Chahal, The Supreme Court today granted absolute protection from arrest to him. Case of disproportionate assets was lodged against Bharat Inder Singh Chahal, who was a former media adviser to the then Punjab Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh.
It was alleged that he is having assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.
Bharat Inder Singh Chahal served as the media adviser to the former Punjab Chief Minister for nearly 4 years. His tenure was from April 1, 2017, to August 31, 2021. The disproportionate assets FIR was lodged against him on August 2, 2023, under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act within two years of his demitting the office.
The top court had on November 11, 2024, passed an interim order protecting Chahal (76) from arrest till the pendency of his petition challenging the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s order dismissing his anticipatory bail application.
The Bench of Supreme Court made its interim order absolute and disposed of Chahal’s petition. “We consider appropriate to make the order dated November 11, 2024, absolute, provided the petitioner cooperates during investigation and trial,” a Bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta said.