By Jaideep Sarin
IANS
Chandigarh : He once commanded the Punjab Police. But life has come a long way in only three months for Bharat Inder Singh Chahal – former media advisor to previous chief minister Amarinder Singh and until recently one of Punjab's most powerful men – now confined to a dank prison cell without even a fan.
The constables and officers of the same police force he ordered around are holding and treating Chahal like an ordinary criminal.
The controversial Chahal, whose style of arbitrary functioning and scant regard for the rule book was well known, is now quoting rules and laws to highlight the "torture", "humiliation" and "political vendetta" unleashed by the same Punjab Police against him at the behest of the new Akali Dal regime.
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has dismissed Chahal's charges saying: "Jo jaisa karega, woh vaisa bharega!" (One shall reap what one sows).
Punjab Police has slapped five cases – attempt to murder, land grabbing, cheating, fraud and conspiracy – against Chahal within one week.
He is facing the heat of corruption cases from the state vigilance separately, with allegations flying thick that he amassed property and assets of nearly Rs.10 billion.
Known for his penchant for luxury – including sporting brands like Armani and Pringle and keeping Mont Blanc pens and expensive mobiles and watches – and putting up in the best hotels, Chahal has been confined to a prison cell with the millionaire in-laws of his son who have also been charged with attempt to murder and land grabbing.
The cell has an open Indian-style toilet, which all inmates have to use in each other's presence. A pedestal fan placed outside the prison bars is the only luxury Chahal enjoys.
Chahal, who was a major power centre during Amarinder Singh's regime till February this year, was arrested dramatically on June 10 in a criminal case of attempt to murder and land grabbing near Ludhiana.
Despite a Punjab and Haryana High Court ruling that the vigilance, which is probing his corruption cases, should give him a four-day notice for his arrest, the Ludhiana police booked him in other criminal cases.
Chahal had quietly left India with his family as the Congress was going out of power February. He remained elusive in Scotland where he claimed he was under treatment for heart problem. But a high court warrant forced him back to India and he is now behind bars.
Chahal, who was a public relations officer in the state's PR department, hogged the limelight when he became the media in-charge for super cop K.P.S. Gill.
After becoming media adviser to Amarinder in 2002 in the rank of a minister of state, Chahal's power and fortunes grew tremendously – making him an eyesore even for top Congress leaders like former deputy chief minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal.
Expectedly, the Congress leadership in Punjab has washed its hands off Chahal's deeds.
"He was never a Congressman. He was just an official in the government. If there is anything against him, the investigating agencies are there," Bhattal said recently while dismissing reports of the 'trauma' faced by Chahal.
Former chief minister Amarinder Singh, who himself is facing corruption charges after the Badal government took over, has not come out openly in support of his former aide either.
Chahal is already facing another case of contempt of the high court here for interfering in the controversial selection of his son as a deputy superintendent of police (DSP) in Punjab Police in February 2005.