New Delhi: Countering allegations of evasion of duties, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on July 11 said he will file a criminal defamation case against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders V K Malhotra and Madan Lal Khurana and Union Minister S S Dhindsa saying their attack against him was to divert attention against investigation of corruption charges against Akali Dal leader Prakash Singh Badal.

"I will be filing a criminal defamation case against these three in Delhi. If they think they can browbeat me, I will not be cowed down," he said.

Singh said he had paid to banks Rs nine crore he had taken as loans before March 29, 2001, which was a year before he became the Chief Minister.

The Chief Minister said the order of Excise Commissioner asking him to pay duties and penalties was rejected by a Tribunal and that even Noida Export Promotion Zone had ruled in his favour.

He said that the charges made against him and the demand for a judicial commission were "only a blatant attempt to divert attention" from the ongoing Vigilance Bureau investigations against Badal.

Singh said whatever evidence of corruption Punjab government gets against Badal would be taken to court. His government would not arrest Badal, he said.

"If he (Badal) claims he is clean why is he so scared?" he added.

PTI