Yo, Punjab’s got some courtroom drama that’s juicier than your favorite Netflix binge! The Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC) just came down hard on the Vigilance Bureau (VB) for what they’re calling a next-level power trip. We’re talking about a corruption case involving former minister Sham Sunder Arora and a whole lot of chaos over some industrial plot transfers. And spoiler alert—the HC isn’t holding back. They’ve slammed the VB for registering an FIR with zero solid ground, calling the whole thing out as a shady flex to harass and humiliate. Let’s break it down, fam, because this story’s got twists, turns, and enough tea to fill a samovar.
Plot (Literally) Thickens: What’s the Drama?
So, rewind two years. An FIR pops up accusing ex-minister Sham Sunder Arora and others of pulling off some shady moves to give Gulmohar Township Company an “unfair advantage” in a land deal. Sounds spicy, right? Not so fast. Justice Mahabir Singh Sindhu just tore that FIR apart, calling it straight-up baseless.
The case is all about the transfer of an industrial plot that’s been bouncing from one owner to another since 1984—no cap. The HC basically said the whole thing was legit, calling it a “simple case” of a plot’s legal transfer. They even pointed out how the VB jumped the gun (no pun intended) and slapped together an FIR without doing their homework. Like, how do you even?
Shady Complaints and Political Playlists
Here’s where it gets wild, y’all. The FIR came from a complaint filed by some dude named “Navjot Singh-Congressman.” Yeah, that’s literally how he signed it—big “Congress vibes,” apparently. The HC was like, “Who even IS this guy?” Turns out, Navjot never even showed up for the initial inquiry or investigation. Imagine dropping a complaint, ghosting the cops, and still having the VB act like it’s gospel truth. Make it make sense!
The court also clocked the obvious political shade in the complaint. It literally ends with, “We gotta fix this before elections, or it’ll look bad on Captain Sir.” Uh, okay? Justice Sindhu called it out for what it was: a low-key hatchet job aimed at scoring political points.
Tracing the Plot’s Glow-Up
Let’s talk about the plot itself—it’s been on a glow-up journey since 1984. Originally given to Punjab Anand Lamp Industries Ltd. (PALI) on a freehold basis, the plot changed hands legally over the years. It even got the green light from Punjab State Industrial Development Corporation (PSIDC) and eventually landed with Gulmohar Township after being sold for a casual Rs 110 crore. Legit moves all the way, fam.
Justice Sindhu didn’t just stop there. He laid out the entire timeline like a boss, proving every transfer, sale, and bifurcation was above board. The VB’s claims of some Rs 500/700 crore loss? Completely made up. Like, they literally pulled those numbers out of thin air. The HC called their bluff, saying the allegations had “no legs to stand on.” Burn!
Selective Targeting Much?
Here’s the kicker: Punjab’s got a policy for breaking up big industrial plots into smaller ones. It’s been around since 2005 and is used statewide. So why, the HC asked, is this the only case where the VB’s losing its mind? Justice Sindhu dropped another truth bomb, saying this was classic “selective targeting.” The VB went after Arora and the other petitioners like it was some sort of revenge mission, while ignoring similar cases statewide.
Ex-Minister’s Defense: Just Doing His Job
Sham Sunder Arora? The guy’s got receipts, literally. The HC pointed out that the FIR against him was based on a letter he wrote as a minister, asking for info on plot bifurcations. That’s it. The court was like, “How you gonna turn an official letter into a criminal case?” Justice Sindhu made it clear: writing a letter in your official capacity does NOT make you guilty of anything. Period.
VB’s Allegations? Imagination Level: Over 9000
The VB tried to act like Gulmohar Township pulled off some illegal stunts to get the plot bifurcated. But nah, the HC wasn’t buying it. Gulmohar did everything by the book, paid all the fees, and followed the rules. The court straight-up said there was no criminal intent here, and the VB was just making stuff up as they went along.
The Final Clapback
In a mic-drop moment, Justice Sindhu quashed the FIR, calling the VB’s actions a misuse of power that made the petitioners scapegoats. The court also slammed the Punjab State Chief Vigilance Commissioner for not checking the complaint’s credibility before unleashing the VB. Like, come on—do your due diligence, people!
Moral of the story? Don’t mess with the Punjab HC—they’re not here for your games. And if you’re gonna bring receipts, make sure they’re real, not imaginary. End of story.
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