CHANDIGARH: Punjab police on Tuesday defended the  'detention' of Congress MLA Joginder Pal Jain and maintained that they have taken action  on the basis of a 19-year-old case under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities (Cofeposa) Act.

Jain, MLA from Moga, was 'arrested' by Moga district police from the Punjab Bhawan here on Monday.

A Punjab police spokesman said Tuesday that a case was registered against Jain in January 1988 at the Indira Gandhi international Airport in Delhi after he was caught travelling under the name and passport of another person. Search of his suitcase revealed that he was illegally carrying foreign currency worth over Rs.1.6 million concealed in a box of sweets.

He was also booked under the Customs Act. Detention orders had been issued by the central ministry of finance and sent to Punjab Police for implementation.

However, Jain got interim stay against the detention orders from the Calcutta High Court. The detention order was vacated in February 2001 but the Punjab Police did not detain him.

The central customs department and Punjab Police continued their communication in the matter over the last 19 years and Jain was finally detained Monday, he said.

Congress leaders described the move as part of the vendetta launched by the Akali Dal government led by Parkash Singh Badal against Congress leaders to settle political scores.