Graft case: CBI likely to question Virbhadra’s OSD
CHANDIGARH: The CBI is likely to summon PS Raghuvansi, currently the officer on special duty to Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh in Delhi in a graft case. Raghuvansi’s name cropped up in the quizzing of HP top official Tilak Raj Sharma, who was arrested on Tuesday.
CHANDIGARH: Following the arrest of Tilak Raj Sharma, joint director of Himachal Pradesh industries department, in a graft case, more heads are expected to roll. On Tuesday, the Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) had arrested Sharma along with Ashok Rana, a Baddi-based businessman, who acted as Sharma’s conduit and had demanded ₹10 lakhs bribe on his behalf from complainant Chander Shekhar, a chartered accountant and consultant with a private pharma firm based at Baddi, Himachal Pradesh.
The CBI has now asked PS Raghuvansi, currently the officer on special duty to Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh in Delhi, to depose before it on Thursday. Raghuvansi is likely to be in Chandigarh in this regard on Thursday.
The investigating agency is also looking at the roles of other officials who could be involved in the graft case. Raghuvansi’s name had cropped up in the case against Tilak Raj Sharma.
Raghuvanshi was earlier under the Union power ministry and got associated with Virbhadra Singh when Singh became the Union steel minister. He was Singh’s additional private secretary. His name figures in the conversation between Sharma and Chander Shekhar, who had accused Sharma of demanding ₹10 lakhs as bribe for processing a file seeking subsidy. The FIR mentions that during the conversation, Tilak Raj Sharma had told Chander Shekhar that the amount is to be handed over to Raghuvansi in Delhi.
Meanwhile, Raghuvansi had denied knowing Sharma. In a text message to Hindustan Times, Raghuvansi said, “Neither I know the person nor I have ever met him. ”Meanwhile, in wake of the allegations of irregularities in granting subsidy, the CBI is also looking at old records in which subsidy was recommended or files that are pending with the industries department.
THE CASE
The CBI, on Tuesday, had arrested joint director of Himachal Pradesh industries department Tilak Raj Sharma and Ashok Rana, from Sector 8 in Chandigarh in a graft case. The two were arrested on allegations of demanding ₹10 lakhs for processing and recommending approval of ₹50 lakhs as subsidy to Medicef Pharma, a Baddi-based company. The CBI had recovered ₹5 lakhs from the accused that was paid as the first instalment.
BJP HITS OUT AT CONGRESS
Meanwhile, the BJP accused the Virbhadra government of patronising corruption.
BJP leaders said when the CM is out on bail, the officers involved in corruption exhibit the work culture what government has patronised and developed in Himachal Pradesh.
A senior officer of the industry department has been arrested by CBI in Chandigarh. “He is just a face. He has also named an officer of the chief minister’s office. This is a serious case,” Dhumal said.