Four years after it was withdrawn, prohibition continues to brew a heady mix of political battles and legal wrangles in Haryana. For the ruling Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), the buoyant mood following the Chahal Commission's indictment of former chief minister Bansi Lal of the Haryana Vikas Party (HVP), proved to be shortlived. On January 30, a week after G.S. Chahal, a retired judge, had submitted the 118-page report to Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, the Punjab and Haryana High Court quashed the appointment of the commission on an appeal made by Bansi Lal.

THE TOOL AND THE TARGET: Bansi Lal (centre) has spiked Chahal's report, but Chautala (right) is upbeat

While the ruling has warmed the cockles of the HVP camp, Chautala is unfazed. Given the damning strictures against Bansi Lal and former prohibition minister Ganeshi Lal of the BJP, the INLD chief is bracing for a legal battle to salvage the report. And it just might prove politically worthwhile.

The report observes that Ganeshi Lal's son allegedly "ran a liquor mafia" from his residence in Sirsa-Chautala's turf-during the prohibition days. It, however, exonerates Bansi Lal's son and former MP Surendra Singh whom the chief minister had vilified as the prime beneficiary of the prohibition policy that cost the exchequer Rs 1,000 crore.

While the future of the report hinges on the legal battle, it might further sour the INLD's ties with the BJP. Says state BJP President Rattan Lal Kataria, who favours snapping of ties with Chautala: "We refuse to believe the charges against Ganeshi Lal. It is another example of vendetta." But Chautala is in no hurry. "We will not let the commission's report go to the dustbin," says a Chautala aide. A trump card is better saved for the deciding round.

-Ramesh Vinayak

The Tamil Nadu Assembly has seen violent exchanges, but it was a first when DMK MLA Parithi Ilamvazhuthi was sent to jail. The DMK stormtrooper allegedly threatened to kill D. Kumaradoss, a Tamil Maanila Kamaraj Congress MLA and Jayalalithaa-supporter, when he criticised the DMK. Speaker K. Kalimuthu not only dismissed Ilamvazhuthi from the Budget session, but also passed a resolution seeking a criminal case against him. The police arrested Ilamvazhuthi the next night.

The issue, however, united the Opposition, barring the BJP. It held a protest condemning Ilamvazhuthi's arrest. But the Speaker is unmoved: "Ilamvazhuthi threatened to kill Kumaradoss. How can we allow him in the House when Kumaradoss will be there?" By that yardstick, half the MLAs in states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar should logically be enjoying state hospitality.

-Arun Ram