Chandigarh, July 20 -- The Punjab and Haryana high court (HC) has sought an explanation from a judicial officer over the delay in trial against developer Jarnail Singh Bajwa in a cheatingcase. The HC bench of justice Sandeep Moudgil acted after a counsel appearing for the petitioner apprised the court that despite the Supreme Court (SC) asking for speedy trial, on at least 12 occasions since March 2023, Bajwa has not been produced before the trial court and no satisfactory explanation has been given. "The registrar (judicial) is directed to call for the explanation of Chahat Chhabra, judicial magistrate 1st Class, Kharar, to show cause as to why there is no progress in the trial since February 2025, despite specific directions by the Hon'ble Supreme Court (SC), which needs to be adhered to in letter and spirit," the bench observed while posting the matter for hearing on August 1. The petitioner, Kuldeepak Mittal, had approached the HC, seeking directions to the authorities to ensure Bajwa's production on each and every date of hearing before the JMIC Kharar in the case, which is going on since 2017. As per his lawyer, Amanpreet Singh, Mittal was an authorised signatory for a land deal with Bajwa Developers Limited. The developer was paidRs.2.5 crore but the society did not get the land as promised. Now, trial is on in the Kharar court on charges of cheating against Bajwa. During the hearing, the counsel told the court that out of 22 days before the trial court, Bajwa was produced only once in person while on three occasions, he appeared in hybrid mode. Singh had also informed the court that in February, acting on a plea from Bajwa, the SC had directed that cases against Bajwa be disposed of in six months. On October 1, 2024 the HC had ordered attachment of properties at 30-odd locations, except his house in Sector 71, Mohali, in some FIRs registered against Bajwa. Prior to this, the court had also ordered freezing of 52 bank accounts held by him andfirms M/s Bajwa Developers Limited, Bajwa Land Developers and Promoters PrivateLimited. The apex court stayed these orders in February 2025 but called for an expeditioustrial. "Though there is still some time left for the expiry of the six-month period before the trial court, the non-production of respondent No 2 (Bajwa) on 12 occasions prima facie seems to be helping in getting the proceedings stalled/delayed directly or indirectly for the cause of accused/respondent No.2," the court observed seeking an explanation from the judicial officer....