Chandigarh: In a reprieve for former Punjab police chief S. S. Virk, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday directed the Vigilance Bureau to investigate the disproportionate assets case against him afresh.

Mr. Virk, considered to be close to former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and replaced by Election Commission just ahead of Assembly polls last year on request by SAD for his alleged partisan role, was facing alleged charges of amassing wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income and under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Justice H. S. Bhalla ordered the existing team led by SSP Surinderpal Singh of the Vigilance Bureau be disbanded within seven days and turned down Mr.Virk’s plea for a CBI probe. The judge also observed that the new IO appointed in this case must not be below the rank of SSP. Earlier Mr. Virk, who is undergoing treatment, had sought directions for handing over the case to CBI alleging a mala fide attempt by the Government at character assassination. Mr. Virk, a Maharashtra-cadre IPS officer, joined his parent cadre despite the Badal Government not relieving him on the ground that he was facing charges of corruption.PTI

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