Punjab and Haryana High Court Dismisses Petition Against Vigilance Inquiry into Sukhpal Singh Khaira's Alleged Disproportionate Assets

Court rules the inquiry is part of official duties and does not infringe legal rights, dismisses claims of harassment.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court, on October 14, 2025, dismissed a petition filed by Sukhpal Singh Khaira, a prominent opposition leader and three-time MLA, seeking to quash a vigilance inquiry into his alleged disproportionate assets. The court found the inquiry to be within the scope of official duties and not in violation of Khaira's legal rights.

Justice Tribhuvan Dahiya presided over the case, which revolved around a vigilance inquiry initiated by a letter dated February 12, 2024. The petitioner argued that the inquiry was politically motivated, aimed at harassing him, and violated the legal standards set by the Supreme Court in the Lalita Kumari case, which mandates time-bound preliminary inquiries.

Khaira, who has faced several legal challenges, contended that the ongoing inquiry and the manner in which information was being gathered from various departments and banks constituted harassment. His legal team cited delays exceeding the time limits prescribed for preliminary inquiries and argued that such actions were intended to curb his political activities and freedom of speech.

However, the court noted that Khaira was not an accused in any vigilance case, nor had any FIR been lodged against him concerning disproportionate assets. The vigilance bureau's actions, including seeking information from banks and governmental departments, were deemed part of its official duty and not directed against Khaira personally. The court also clarified that the Lalita Kumari judgment's directives on time-bound inquiries were not applicable in this context, as there was no complaint or FIR that necessitated such a preliminary inquiry.

The court emphasized that the letters sent by the vigilance bureau were inter-departmental communications aimed at gathering necessary information as part of their routine duties. Hence, no legal rights of the petitioner were infringed by these actions.

In its judgment, the court concluded that there was no merit in Khaira's petition and dismissed it, allowing the vigilance bureau to continue its inquiry unimpeded. The decision underscores the judiciary's stance on allowing governmental bodies to perform their investigative functions without undue interference, provided they operate within the legal framework.

Bottom Line:

Vigilance inquiry into disproportionate assets of a petitioner cannot be restrained if conducted as part of official duty and without infringing any legal rights of the petitioner.

Statutory provision(s): Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 Section 528, Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 Section 319, Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.

Sukhpal Singh Khaira v. State of Punjab, (Punjab and Haryana) : Law Finder Doc Id # 2801433