HC dismisses petition against Speaker Bindal

Legal Correspondent

Shimla, December 19

In a major relief to Speaker Rajeev Bindal, the High Court today dismissed the petition alleging irregularities in the recruitment of Class IV employees in the Solan Municipal Committee when Bindal was its chief in 1998.

The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau had withdrawn the case registered against him as well as 24 others, which was challenged by one Pawan Thakur.

Justice Sureshwar Thakur passed the judgment against the revision petition that also challenged the order of the Special Judge, Solan, who had allowed the application of withdrawal filed by the agency.

Dismissing the petition, Justice Sureshwar Thakur observed, ldquo;There is no merit in the petition, hence the same is dismissed.rdquo;

The petitioner had contended that the prosecution had filed the application of withdrawal of the case under the influence of Bindal, who is Speaker. It was further alleged that Bindal got the sanction for withdrawal of the case by influence.

The Special Judge, Solan, on January 24, 2019, allowed the application of withdrawal of prosecution against Bindal and others.

The case was registered under Sections 420, 468, 471 and 120-B of the IPC and Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act in 2006 by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau. The government had finally granted the prosecution sanction against Bindal and others in the case in July 2013.

The Vigilance, in its application filed before the Special Judge, Solan, had pleaded that there was no allegation of nepotism or illegal gratification or passing of consideration and in view of the inadequate evidence, there were bleak chances of conviction. Hence, the withdrawal of the case had been sought by the bureau.

Courtesy: Tribune News Service