Chatwal's Padma award challenged

The petition alleged that many economic fraud cases had been filed against him in both America and India. The PIL will be heard by the High Court on Thursday.

“Padma awards are the highest civilian awards given in the filed of science, technology, medicine, art, cinema, literature, sports, etc. The Government of India went extra mile to appease him floundering all propriety, ethics and chasing a single goal to award him Padma Bhushan,’’ said the petition filed by S K Shah, a freelance journalist.

“The decision of the Centre to confer the award on Chatwal is not only in violation of the fundamental rights of every citizens, but is also against the policies to award the Padma awards,” it said.

The petition has sought a direction to the Centre to rescind the decision to confer the award on Chatwal on various grounds, including his alleged name in various criminal complaints.

“The petitioner is aggrieved by the government’s decision to confer “Padma Bhushan” on Sant Singh Chatwal, an NRI whose rise emanates from dubious, questionable and murky financial dealings. The petitioner wants, in view of questionable past of Chatwal, the government to rescind its decision to award Chatwal with Padambhushan,’’ said the petition.

The PIL has made Chatwal, the Centre and CBI as respondent to file their reply.
The petition has sought direction that Chatwal and his firms be not given any loan or money by the banks here.