Punjab Deputy Chief Sukhbir Badal And His MP Wife Get High Court Notice In Moga Molestation Case

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The HC Bench has sought details of Orbit Aviation’s shareholders and its balance sheet for the past five years. The court has also demanded the list of criminal cases registered against private bus operators over the past one year, besides details of operators with more than 10 permits

CHANDIGARH – A month after a 13-year-old Moga girl died after her alleged molesters pushed her off a bus owned by Orbit Aviation, the Punjab and Haryana High Court issued notice of motion to Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal and Union Cabinet Minister Harsimrat Badal on a petition for arraigning them as accused. The couple allegedly owns shares in Orbit Aviation.

The Bench, in a related case, made it clear it will look into the ownership and profits made during the past five years by Orbit Aviation. As many as 62 buses owned by the company are currently operating in the state.

Taking up the Moga molestation case, the Bench also sought details of criminal cases registered against private operators in the past one year. Punjab Advocate-General Ashok Aggarwal was directed to produce the FIR in the molestation case.

As the case came up for resumed hearing, the Bench asked the company to disclose the details of its share-holders and also produce balance sheets for the past five years.

A balance sheet is a statement of the assets, liabilities and capital of an organisation at a particular point in time. It also contains details of income and expenditure over the preceding period.

The Bench of Justice Hemant Gupta and Justice Lisa Gill also directed Punjab to give the details of private operators with more than 10 permits.

Amicus curiae or the friend of the court advocate RS Bains said Orbit Aviation in its reply to be filed before the court should disclose its shareholders and produce balance sheets for the past five years. The details of private bus operators were also sought.

“We find that the information sought by the amicus curiae would help in adjudicating the issues arising in the present public interest litigation. Respondent-company and the state shall disclose the information so asked for before the next date of hearing”.

The case will now come up for further hearing on May 27.