The Punjab and Haryana High Court has dismissed a petition filed by former Punjab Industries Minister Sundar Sham Arora seeking to quash an FIR and the ongoing trial proceedings in a bribery case registered against him by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau.
Rejecting the plea, the High Court observed that the petition lacked merit and found no valid grounds to interfere with the criminal proceedings. As a result, the trial against the former minister will continue before the competent court.
The case dates back to 2022, when the Punjab Vigilance Bureau arrested Arora on allegations of attempting to bribe an Assistant Inspector General (AIG)-rank officer of the agency. According to the investigating agency, Arora allegedly offered Rs 1 crore to have his name removed from a disproportionate assets investigation.
The Vigilance Bureau claimed that, as part of the alleged arrangement, Arora arrived to deliver the first instalment of Rs 50 lakh, following which he was apprehended during an operation. A case under the Prevention of Corruption Act was subsequently registered against him.
Seeking relief from the High Court, Arora challenged both the FIR and the proceedings pending before the trial court, arguing that the criminal case should be set aside. However, the court rejected his plea.
Although the High Court had earlier granted Arora regular bail in the case, the dismissal of his latest petition means the prosecution and trial will continue in accordance with the law.