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Interim bail to YC Bains in defamation case; Police to press remand in another case
Shimla, June 6,
A local court here today granted interim bail to Congress leader and social activist Yudh Chand Bains in a case arising from allegations made by him against former Himachal Pradesh Chief Secretary Sanjay Gupta in connection with the controversial Chester Hills matter.
The case stems from a video posted by Bains on social media in which he levelled a series of allegations against Gupta. Bains had claimed that Gupta purchased land allegedly worth around Rs 40 crore for merely Rs two crore and further alleged that the former Chief Secretary received a large amount of money for settling issues related to the Chester Hills project and subsequently used those funds to acquire property outside Himachal Pradesh. Several other allegations were also made in the video.
The issue had earlier attracted attention from various Left-leaning organisations and activists who had raised questions regarding the Chester Hills matter.
Sanjay Gupta, who retired as Himachal Pradesh Chief Secretary on May 31 and is presently associated with Punjab’s power regulatory sector, had lodged a complaint with police before his retirement. In the complaint, Gupta maintained that all allegations levelled against him had been found false during inquiries and were intended to damage his reputation.
Based on the complaint, police registered an FIR against Yudh Chand Bains, former Additional Advocate General Vinay Sharma and former Chief Secretary and former RERA Chairman Shrikant Baldi. Bains subsequently approached the court seeking bail, following which interim protection was granted.
Meanwhile, Bains continues to face legal proceedings in a separate case registered by Shimla Police over a social media video allegedly affecting communal harmony. Police arrested him on Friday following a complaint filed by a youth from the minority community in Churah area of Chamba district, who alleged that a video uploaded by Bains contained content capable of disturbing communal peace.
Also Read YC Bains arrested in communal harmony case; 3rd FIR lodged
After his arrest, Bains was medically examined at both Kamla Nehru Hospital and Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital, Shimla. He remained in police custody at Boileauganj Police Station on Saturday morning.
Police are expected to produce Bains before a local court later in the day and seek his custodial remand in connection with the communal harmony case. The latest developments mark a significant escalation in the legal challenges confronting the activist, who is currently facing multiple FIRs in different cases.
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