For all his prominent cases or perhaps because of them, Bansal never enjoyed a very good reputation in the High Court. “His practice increased day by day. You would never find him arguing small cases. He would always represent the big fish, be it a service matter or a civil appeal,” says a senior advocate on the condition of anonymity. Questions were also raised about his “proximity” with several high court judges.

In 2005, Bansal was made Additional Advocate General by the newly elected Bhupinder Singh Hooda government. He was also nominated as a member of the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana for one year. Since he was booked, Bansal has quit as Additional Advocate General.

The appointment came as no surprise as Bansal had close ties with senior Congress leaders. He was known to fund their rallies and campaigns and some reports claimed he had gifted an expensive SUV (sports utility vehicle) to a senior Congress leader in 2006.

Bansal himself owns two Mitsubishi Pajeros and one Mitsubishi Montero.

Meanwhile, a lookout notice has been issued against Bansal, the police said on Tuesday. “Yesterday, we issued lookout notices against Bansal and a Delhi businessman Ravinder Singh, but both of them have failed to turn up so far and join investigations,” Madhur Verma, Additional Superintendent of Police (Central), said in Chandigarh on Tuesday.

Bansal’s mobile phone call details are being scrutinised to ascertain with whom he was in touch before the alleged crime, the police said, adding his bank account is also being checked. Police teams had been sent to Delhi and some other places to trace Bansal and the businessman.

... contd.