GURCHARAN SINGH PHERURAI Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE petitioner is an accused in F.I.R. 68 dated September 5, 2002 registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 at Police Station, Vigilance Bureau, Patiala Range, Patiala in respect of alleged payment by him of a bribe of Rs. 2.80 crores to the then Chairman of the Punjab Public Service Commission, Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu for the appointment of the petitioner's son Gurjit Singh as a Deputy Superintendent of Police. The case also involved alleged payments of huge bribes by Naresh Kumar and Gursharanbir Singh for selection as Deputy Superintendents of Police. The fifth accused in this case was Amardeep Singh son of Kala Singh.

(2.) COUNSEL for the petitioner has argued that the petitioner has been in custody for about eight months, his four other co-accused mentioned above were released on anticipatory bail by the learned Special Judge, Patiala on November 16, 2002. Thirty other persons who were also candidates and who had also allegedly obtained appointments through bribes were admitted to bail in F.I.Rs. 64, 65, 66 and 67 which related to different categories of candidates but were essentially connected cases.

(3.) ACCORDING to the learned counsel the final report of the case was presented before Special Judge, Patiala on January 6, 2003 but so far charge has not been framed and consequently the trial has not commenced.