The Punjab Vigilance Bureau on Tuesday issued a Look Out Circular (LOC) at all airports for Manpreet Singh Badal, a former finance minister of the Punjab and a leader of the Bharatiya Janta Party.
The purchase of two plots in Model Town phase-1 Bathinda is the subject of a criminal and corruption prosecution against Badal, who quit the Congress and joined the BJP in January of this year.
In addition to the Information Technology Act, the complaint was filed against him under sections 420, 467, 468, 471, and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code and section 13 (1) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Notably, the vigilance department has issued the notice to prevent Manpreet Badal from leaving the country.
In order to avoid being arrested, Badal had previously asked the court for anticipatory bail. Today, a hearing on his appeal will be place in Bathinda’s session court.
Apart from Badal, cases have been registered against four other individuals as well. So far, the Vigilance Bureau has arrested at least three accused in the case, namely Rajiv Kumar (resident of New Shakti Nagar), Amandeep Singh (resident of Lal Singh Basti), and Vikas Arora (resident of Tagore Nagar).
The case was registered on a complaint filed by Saroop Chand Singla, former MLA of Bathinda city, against Manpreet Singh Badal and others, a spokesperson of the Vigilance Bureau said.