Court’s ‘No’ to Ajay Chautala’s plea on Pakistan visit
By IANSWednesday, June 16, 2010
NEW DELHI - Haryana legislator Ajay Chautala, facing trial in corruption cases, Wednesday approached the Delhi High Court for permission to visit Pakistan for receiving June 23 the Queen’s Baton Relay ahead of Commonwealth Games 2010.
The high court asked Chautala to approach the trial court, hearing the two cases against him, for relief.
Filing an urgent application before a vacation bench of Justice S.N. Dhingra, Chautala’s lawyer said: “Since he is the president of the Table Tennis Federation of India and has been nominated as member of the Indian delegation for receiving the Queen’s Baton Relay, which shall be reaching Pakistan June 23, so permission be granted to him.”
Chautala, son of former chief minister Om Prakash Chautala, along with his brother Abhay Chautala is facing trial here in two cases of amassing assets.
In his petition, Chautala also annexed a letter, dated June 11, by the chairman of the Organizing Committee of Commonwealth Games Suresh Kalmadi, inviting him for the ceremony.
Chautala pleaded that he should be allowed to visit Pakistan June 21-25.
On the other hand, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) opposed Chautala’s plea stating that since the two cases of disproportionate assets against him are pending in trial court, he should first approach the concerned court.
According to the CBI chargesheet against Chautala, he was in possession of assets worth Rs.27.74 crore — 339 percent more than his income of Rs.8.17 crore during 1993 to 2006.
