By IANS
Patiala (Punjab) : Former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh Wednesday visited his ex-media adviser Bharat Inder Singh Chahal in the Patiala prison here and warned the ruling Akali Dal not to indulge in political vendetta.
"If they (Akalis) think they can go on like this, they are mistaken. When our government returns to power, we will ensure that we don't spare anyone either," a visibly upset Singh told reporters.
The former chief minister was upset over the manner in which Chahal was allegedly being treated in the prison.
Chahal, Singh's controversial media adviser between 2002-07, enjoyed the status of a cabinet minister and was regarded as one of the most powerful people in the state till February this year. His writ rode over the state's administrative and police set-up.
Half a dozen cases – ranging from attempt to murder, land grabbing, conspiracy and corruption to possessing disproportionate assets – have been slapped on chahal.
The former media adviser had earlier complained that Punjab police was torturing him in custody at the behest of chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and his family.
Chahal, police sources said, complained to Singh that he was being tortured and even been given electric shocks. He also claimed that in the barrack where he was kept with other inmates, he was the only one not without a bed to sleep on.
Amarinder Singh said he would support all Congress leaders and those associated with his government if they were hounded by the present Akali regime.
"If they continue with all this (torture), we will go a step ahead when we come back to power," he warned.
The former chief minister is himself facing a corruption case in the multi-billion Ludhiana city centre allotment scam. He was interrogated in June for nearly seven hours by vigilance department officers.