CHANDIGARH: The Crime Branch of the Chandigarh police on Monday added two Sections— Section 380 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code--to an FIR registered earlier in an alleged theft case against prime accused Raju. The police also raided the residence of Harneet Kaur, wife of Chandigarh Deputy Mayor and local Youth Congress president H. S. Lucky, and a colleague of hers in Sector 8 here as their names had come up during investigations.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that Ms. Harneet Kaur, a school teacher, has applied for anticipatory bail. Police sources said that earlier the police had registered a case against Raju under Section 381 that covers thefts committed by an employee. But in view of the latest developments and "vital evidence'' against Ms. Harneet Kaur and her colleague, two more sections had been added which covered thefts committed by anyone.

The Crime Branch had raided the residence of Mr. Lucky earlier this month and impounded his Skoda car that was allegedly used in the "commission of theft'' in a garments shop in the posh Sector 17 here.

The raid was conducted on the basis of a statement by a witness that one of Mr. Lucky's close family members was also "linked'' with the crime.

This witness had also given the registration number of the Skoda to the police stating that it was ``used'' in taking away the stolen garments.

The breakthrough was achieved on Sunday when the police interrogated the prime accused, Raju, a salesman at the garments shop, in Burail Jail here after taking permission from a local court.

Police officers disclosed that Raju had said during interrogation that Ms. Harneet Kaur and her colleague, also a school teacher, were allegedly "involved" in the commission of thefts from the garments shop.

The police had also summoned Mr. Lucky for questioning a couple of days ago and he had denied his wife's involvement in the case.

He had accused his political rivals of trying to frame him in a political conspiracy.

Armed with a "clean chit'' reportedly given by Union Minister of State for Finance Pawan Kumar Bansal, he had also picked up cudgels with the president of the local unit of the Congress, B. B. Bahl, who had sent him a show-cause notice to clarify his stand relating to these "events'' which were being reported in the media and were bringing a bad name to the Congress. Meanwhile, demands for Mr. Lucky's "resignation'' from the Corporation and the Youth Congress are gathering momentum among party men who feel that the image of the party has received a big drubbing.

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