Punjab vs CBI in assembly speaker case

Punjab seems to be heading for a confrontation with CBI in the corruption case against assembly speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon.
The state has declined permission to prosecute the speaker, but a special court is expected to frame charges against Kahlon on the basis of the charge sheet filed by CBI.

Sensing the gravity of the situation, deputy speaker Satpal Gosain has written to chief minister Parkash Singh Badal to challenge the chargesheet in the Punjab and Haryana high court.

Gosain said when the state has already declined permission for prosecuting the speaker, CBI need not proceed with the case. “This is violation of federal powers of the state,” he said. Chief secretary SC Aggarwal said Gosain’s proposal had been sent to the chief minister, but no decision had been  taken.

Both the speaker and the deputy speaker called on the chief minister on Wednesday to deliberate on the matter. Kahlon had appeared before the special CBI court in Patiala last Tuesday and was granted anticipatory bail. Kahlon is in the dock for allegedly committing administrative and financial irregularities in selection of 900 panchayat secretaries in 2000 when he was a minister in the Badal government.