June 14, 2007
Punjab's 'Power' Man
Becomes Quite Powerless! By Jaideep Sarin
Chandigarh
He once commanded the Punjab Police. But life has come a long way in
only three months for Bharat Inder Singh Chahal - former media
advisor to previous chief minister Amarinder Singh and until
recently one of Punjab's most powerful men - now confined to a dank
prison cell without even a fan.
The constables and officers of the same police force he ordered
around are holding and treating Chahal like an ordinary criminal.
The controversial Chahal, whose style of arbitrary functioning and
scant regard for the rule book was well known, is now quoting rules
and laws to highlight the "torture", "humiliation" and "political
vendetta" unleashed by the same Punjab Police against him at the
behest of the new Akali Dal regime.
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has dismissed Chahal's charges
saying: "Jo jaisa karega, woh vaisa bharega!" (One shall reap what
one sows).
Punjab Police has slapped five cases - attempt to murder, land
grabbing, cheating, fraud and conspiracy - against Chahal within one
week.
He is facing the heat of corruption cases from the state vigilance
separately, with allegations flying thick that he amassed property
and assets of nearly Rs.10 billion.
Known for his penchant for luxury - including sporting brands like
Armani and Pringle and keeping Mont Blanc pens and expensive mobiles
and watches - and putting up in the best hotels, Chahal has been
confined to a prison cell with the millionaire in-laws of his son
who have also been charged with attempt to murder and land grabbing.
The cell has an open Indian-style toilet, which all inmates have to
use in each other's presence. A pedestal fan placed outside the
prison bars is the only luxury Chahal enjoys.
Chahal, who was a major power centre during Amarinder Singh's regime
till February this year, was arrested dramatically on June 10 in a
criminal case of attempt to murder and land grabbing near Ludhiana.
Despite a Punjab and Haryana High Court ruling that the vigilance,
which is probing his corruption cases, should give him a four-day
notice for his arrest, the Ludhiana police booked him in other
criminal cases.
Chahal had quietly left India with his family as the Congress was
going out of power February. He remained elusive in Scotland where
he claimed he was under treatment for heart problem. But a high
court warrant forced him back to India and he is now behind bars.
Chahal, who was a public relations officer in the state's PR
department, hogged the limelight when he became the media in-charge
for super cop K.P.S. Gill.
After becoming media adviser to Amarinder in 2002 in the rank of a
minister of state, Chahal's power and fortunes grew tremendously -
making him an eyesore even for top Congress leaders like former
deputy chief minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal.
Expectedly, the Congress leadership in Punjab has washed its hands
off Chahal's deeds.
"He was never a Congressman. He was just an official in the
government. If there is anything against him, the investigating
agencies are there," Bhattal said recently while dismissing reports
of the 'trauma' faced by Chahal.
Former chief minister Amarinder Singh, who himself is facing
corruption charges after the Badal government took over, has not
come out openly in support of his former aide either.
Chahal is already facing another case of contempt of the high court
here for interfering in the controversial selection of his son as a
deputy superintendent of police (DSP) in Punjab Police in February
2005.
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