Ex-IAS officer granted bail in 24-year-old corruption case

A former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, Gurnihal Singh Pirzada, has been granted anticipatory bail by a CBI court in Chandigarh. This decision is linked to a corruption case that is nearly 24 years old. Pirzada, who previously served as the managing director of the Punjab State Electronic Development and Production Corporation Limited, is accused of misusing his power to acquire properties under false names. The alleged corruption took place in 2001, but a case was not registered until 2012. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) opened a new case in 2016. The court noted that the investigation is complete and that Pirzada is not needed for any further questioning. His bail plea argued that he was being falsely implicated in the case. A chargesheet against him was filed in December 2018, detailing serious allegations under various laws, including the Prevention of Corruption Act.