HC upholds arrest of former minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot in forest scam

Chandigarh: In a significant development, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has upheld the arrest of former minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the forest scam. While the court dismissed Dharamsot’s petition challenging his arrest in this case, it has granted him bail in a separate disproportionate assets case.

Dharamsot had argued that his arrests in both cases were unlawful and had sought the quashing of the arrest orders along with bail. The court, however, rejected his plea regarding the forest scam, ruling that the ED’s actions were justified.

Despite being granted bail in the disproportionate assets case on technical grounds, Dharamsot remains in custody due to the forest scam charges.

Dharamsot, who is currently lodged in Nabha Central Jail, was arrested by the ED in January over allegations of accumulating disproportionate assets during his tenure as forest minister from March 2016 to March 2022. He is accused of earning Rs 2.37 crore during that period, while allegedly spending Rs 8.76 crore, with the sources of his excess spending now under investigation.

The High Court’s ruling means that despite the bail in one case, Dharamsot will not be released as he continues to face charges in the forest scam case.