VIRBHADRA GETS ED SUMMONS YET AGAIN

NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday issued fresh summons to Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh after he failed to appear before it in connection with a money laundering probe case. The fresh summons require him to be present before the Investigating Officer (IO) of the case here on April 20. Officials said the fresh summons were issued under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) provisions after the CM failed to keep the scheduled date on Thursday. It was not clear if Singh communicated to the agency the reasons for his inability to keep the date.

NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday issued fresh summons to Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh after he failed to appear before it in connection with a money laundering case probe.

The fresh summons require him to be present before the Investigating Officer (IO) of the case here on April 20.

Officials said the fresh summons were issued under PMLA provisions after the chief minister failed to keep the scheduled date.

It was not immediately ascertained if Singh had communicated to the ED about the reasons for this absence. The agency had, earlier this week, issued summons to Singh for personal appearance and in order to question him and record his statement under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The latest ED action has come close on the heels of filing of a chargesheet by the CBI against Singh, his wife and others for allegedly amassing assets worth around ₹10 crore disproportionate to their known sources of income. The agency had summoned Singh earlier also, but then he had excused himself stating his official commitments.

The ED has already questioned his wife Pratibha and son Vikramaditya in connection with the case.

It had filed a case under the anti-money laundering law against the Himachal Pradesh CM, his family members and others after taking cognisance of a complaint filed by the CBI in this regard in September 2015.

The agency is probing allegations against Singh and his family members of amassing wealth disproportionate to their known sources of income between 2009 and 2011 when he was the Union minister of steel. It has also attached assets worth about ₹14 crore in the case.

Speaking to HT, Virbhadra Singh said, “We will reply when time will come,” he said. “I am not afraid of Enforcement directorate cases. The BJP is misusing central agencies for this. If they want to fight the battle, fight it here,” he said. The chief minister said he would go when appropriate time will come.

I am not afraid of Enforcement directorate cases. We will reply when time will come. VIRBHADRA SINGH, Himachal CM