The Punjab and Haryana High Court has stayed proceedings in a corruption case involving alleged embezzlement of Rs 65 lakh earmarked for installing streetlights in Punjab villages during 2021 and 2022. The order concerns Capt Sandeep Sandhu, general secretary of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee and a former officer on special duty to ex-chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh.
Justice Sanjay Vashisth passed the order on a petition filed by Sandhu, who challenged several directions issued by a special court in a sessions trial arising from a First Information Report registered by the Vigilance Bureau’s Economic Offences Wing in Ludhiana on September 27, 2022.
The FIR was registered under Sections 13(1)(a) read with 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and Sections 409 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code. Sections 465, 467, 468 and 471 of the IPC were subsequently added, according to the report.
The case relates to funds allocated for streetlight installation in villages. The alleged diversion of such funds is significant because streetlighting is a basic public infrastructure service linked to road visibility, movement after dark and the use of public spaces. The available court report does not establish whether the alleged financial irregularities occurred or whether any streetlight work was completed.
Sandhu asked the High Court to quash orders passed by the special court, including directions requiring the investigating agency to submit a supplementary report under Section 173(8) of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The direction followed an expedited investigation into the case.
The petitioner’s lawyers, senior advocate Bipin Ghai and advocate Nikhil Ghai, argued that the allegations had been prejudged and had adversely affected his right of defence. The High Court recorded the petitioner’s grievance that the allegations were “prejudged” and had “grossly affected/prejudiced the right of defence”.
The court also observed that “the FIR was registered only due to change of the regime in the state of Punjab, in year 2022.” The observation forms part of the order on Sandhu’s petition; it does not amount to a final finding on the allegations in the corruption case.
With the stay, proceedings arising from the case have been put on hold pending further consideration by the High Court. The order does not conclude the criminal case or determine whether the alleged embezzlement took place.
The matter is next listed for hearing on October 16. Further proceedings will depend on the High Court’s consideration of Sandhu’s challenge to the special court’s orders and the investigation-related directions.
