The financial worth of ruling SAD president and Punjab’s deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal has increased by more than Rs.50 lakh every month since April 2009. But he does not own a car or any other vehicle, except an old Massey Ferguson tractor.
CM Parkash Singh Badal’s heir apparent, who filed the nomination papers on Monday to contest the assembly elections from the Jalalabad segment in Ferozepur district, has amassed about Rs.19 crore over his declared worth about 33 months ago.
According to his affidavit, Sukhbir’s gross worth currently is over Rs.76.46 crore – including cash, bank deposits, vehicles and jewellery (worth over Rs.27.58 crore) and market value of the property (over Rs.48.88 crore). In April 2009, the worth of Sukhbir’s assets was Rs.57.27 crore.
Sukhbir’s wife and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur, who had amassed assets worth around Rs.3 crore in April 2009, has now hiked it to over Rs.14 crore. The sources close to Sukhbir, however, claimed his financial worth increased since the value of his property and land had appreciated over the years.
Sukhbir owes over Rs.3 crore to the income tax department. The dues are, however, under appeal. The deputy chief minister also faces a case of attempt to murder and causing hurt, which was registered at Kotkapura town in Faridkot district. The sessions judge had framed charges against Sukhbir but the Punjab and Haryana High Court stayed the proceedings in September 2008.
On Monday, People’s Party of Punjab (PPP) president Manpreet Badal, who filed nomination papers to contest from Gidderbaha and Maur, submitted incomplete documents. The returning officers in Bathinda and Gidderbaha issued him notices for submitting the details of his assets on a plain paper and unattested form. His close aide and PPP candidate from Bathinda, Sukhdeep Singh Bhinder, also submitted incomplete forms along with the nomination papers.
Manpreet, directed to furnish the complete set of documents before January 12, said it was a technical mistake. But the PPP sources said Manpreet could have been in a hurry to submit the papers, leading to the errors creeping into his forms.
News Source: India Today
