GUJRANWALA: The Nandipur power project case complainant and chief security officer Rana Mehtab Alam Khan, who was later declared a suspect by the water and power ministry, was on Monday granted pre-arrest bail till Sept 30 by the district and sessions court.

After the crucial record of furnace oil purchase caught fire mysteriously at Nandipur power project site about a fortnight ago, the chief security officer (CSO) had got registered a case against two guards -- Imtinas Khan and Salahuddin -- with Aroop police. Both guards were arrested.

However, during investigation, one of the suspects, Imtinas Khan, revealed he had set the record on fire at the behest of his boss, CSO Mehtab Alam.

On receiving the inquiry report, higher authorities restrained Mr Alam from working as CSO and declared him a suspect in the case, informing the police that now onwards the case would be pursued by the project director.

When Aroop police conducted a raid on project site to arrest Mr Alam, he escaped and later secured protective bail from the Lahore High Court till Sept 24.

Later, the high court directed the suspect to seek bail from Gujranwala sessions court. The suspect appeared in the sessions court and secured his pre-arrest bail till Sept 30.

Aroop Town Station House Officer (SHO) Khurram Shahzad told Dawn that the suspect would be arrested after expiry of his bail.

He said the Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco) had hinted at handing over the suspect to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for further investigation.

Meanwhile, a local court extended the physical remand of one of the suspects, Imtinas Khan, for three days on the request of Aroop police.

In the light of an inquiry conducted by Muzaffargarh power station senior engineers concluded a few days back, Nandipur power station chief executive Muhammad Asif had already been suspended from service.

A Pecpo inquiry team is also expected to arrive at Nandipur power station on Wednesday (tomorrow) to probe into the matter.

Published in Dawn, September 27th, 2016