High Court Seeks Criminal Antecedent Of 'RTI Activist' Who Alleged Embezzlement In Punjab Govt's Purchase Of High-End Utility Vehicles

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has sought details of the criminal background of a litigant stated to be an RTI activist, who alleged financial irregularities in the Punjab government's procurement of a high-end utility vehicle.

During the hearing, Advocate General Maninderjit Singh Bedi appearing for the Punjab Government, submitted that as per the Public Interest Litigation Rules, 2010, the petitioner must disclose their credentials before filing the PIL, and the registry is entitled to verify the antecedents.

Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry said, "Statement in regard to antecedents, which are supposed to be disclosed by a public spirited person filing Public Interest Litigation, is missing in the backdrop of objection made by State of Punjab that there are two FIRs, which are registered against the petitioner, details of which have not been provided in the petition."

The Court sought fresh affidavit from the petitioner and said "when the petitioner furnishes details of his criminal antecedents, same be verified by the Registry before putting up the matter before the Bench."

Satnam Singh Dhawan filed a PIL seeking a CBI inquiry into the purchase of 144 Toyota Hilux vehicles by the Punjab Government, alleging embezzlement of government funds and the acquisition of funds through illegal means for the personal benefit of the concerned officer.

Dhawan alleged that he found that the price at which the Punjab Government had purchased the aforesaid vehicle directly from the Manufacturer, has cost to Exchequer an amount to the tune of Rs. 10,72,441 for every such vehicle and thus, in other words, for purchasing 144 vehicles, the State of Punjab has paid minimum of Rs.15.44 crore extra, even if the bulk discount was not available.

Hence, he contended that State Exchequer suffered loss of over Rs. 15 crores.

However, the AG Punjab brought to the court's notice that two FIRs are pending against the petitioner, involving serious allegations such as extortion and forgery. Therefore, in the absence of disclosed antecedents, the PIL is not maintainable, he added.

The matter is now adjourned to August 27.

Mr. H.C. Arora, Advocate, and Mr. Mandeep Prakash, Advocate, for the petitioner.

Mr. Maninderjit Singh Bedi, Advocate General, Punjab, with Ms. Anu Chatrath, Senior Addl. Advocate General, Punjab, Mr. Rajeev Madaan, Addl. Advocate General, Punjab, and Mr. Vipin Pal Yadav, Addl. Advocate General, Punjab.

Mr. Akashdeep Singh, Special Public Prosecutor, CBI, for respondent No.4.

Title: Satnam Singh Dhawan v. State of Punjab and others

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