New twist in the Chand-Fiza love saga

Mohali: The Punjab Police have closed the case filed by Fiza against her estranged husband and former Haryana deputy chief minister Chander Mohan alias Chand Mohammad.

The police termed the case a fallout of a "strained relationship". But Fiza, a former law official, said she would now move the court.

Fiza, earlier known as Anuradha Bali, filed a complaint on February 16 asking the police to register charges of rape, criminal intimidation, cheating, hurting religious sentiments and defamation against Chand.

"During investigation we sought legal opinion but nothing offensive came out of the complaint. It seems to be a case of a strained relationship between the couple. We cannot take any permissible action," Senior Superintendent of Police, Jatinder Singh Aulakh told IANS on Tuesday.

After filing her complaint, Fiza - who has been assistant advocate general for the Punjab and Haryana governments - had submitted her Muslim marriage certificate and recorded her statement before the police.

She alleged that Chand's conversion to Islam was a farce and he had hatched a conspiracy against her in connivance with his family members.

The police summoned Fiza and Chand for their statements. While Fiza went to the police, her husband sent a fax. Chand has gone missing since January 28.

Chand had left Fiza's house in Mohali less than two months after their marriage.

Chand's message from London denied all the allegations and said he had not deserted Fiza and would return to India in April. He also denied that he converted to Islam only to get married a second time.

After the police clean chit to Chand late Monday, Fiza said, "The police are working under the influence of Chand's family. Now I will move the court in the coming days to get justice.

"Chand's family members are threatening me through letters and mail but the police are not doing anything."

Chand, the elder son of former Haryana chief minister Bhajan Lal, is a Haryana Congress legislator.

He lost his job as Haryana's high-profile deputy chief minister in December after he emerged from a 40-day hiding with a new name, religion and wife.