The Punjab and Haryana High Court today confirmed interim anticipatory bail granted in a corruption case to Punjab’s former finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal. The order was passed by Justice Tribhuvan Dahiya on Badal’s plea filed way back in 2023.His stand in the matter was a result of “apparent malafide and ulterior motives of an inimical head of the State”. Senior advocate RS Cheema with counsel Arshdeep Singh Cheema, had earlier contended on Badal’s behalf that he was being targeted and entangled in the inquiry/ investigation due to the State Chief Minister’s political intervention.Referring to the allegations, Cheema submitted it was alleged in the FIR that the petitioner used his position and power to influence the Bathinda Development Authority (BDA) to firstly put up the plots for auction in 2021 at a lower rate. It was also alleged that the public was restrained from joining the auction process by not uploading the site plans.It was further alleged that the confidants of the petitioner, having exclusive knowledge of the details of the site, participated in the auction and were successful in getting the plots almost at the reserve price, thereby causing loss to the state exchequer.“It is imperative to bring to the notice of this court that it was an e-auction, which was open to the entire world and it was not possible for anyone to prevent any bidder from taking part in the auction process. The reserve price of the plot was fixed at Rs 29900 per square meter and the same was purchased by two people at the price of Rs 30348.5 per square meter. These plots were later purchased by the petitioner by paying premium over the price to the original allottees and paid the stamp duty of about Rs.25 lakhs to the State exchequer. The money received from the sale of the flat of the petitioner was used to purchase these plots,” it was added.