Virbhadra’s assets case: HC order likely today
The Delhi High Court is likely to pronounce on Monday its verdict on the plea of Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and others seeking quashing of a money-laundering case against them.
The arguments in the case have been heard by Justice R K Guaba, who is expected to give his order.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had earlier summoned 83-year-old Singh, his wife Pratibha Singh and son Vikramaditya Singh for questioning in this regard.
The ED had in September 2015 lodged the case against the chief minister and others under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after taking cognisance of a criminal complaint filed by the CBI.
The CBI had filed a charge sheet on March 31, hours after the high court refused to quash the FIR lodged against Singh and his wife in the disproportionate assets case.
The high court, which had rubbished the chief minister’s claim that the FIR was the result of a “political vendetta”, had paved the way for criminal proceedings which were stalled due to an October 1, 2015 order of the Himachal Pradesh High Court restraining the CBI from arresting, interrogating and filing the charge sheet against the accused.
The ED had earlier termed as “premature” Singh’s plea for quashing of the money laundering case proceedings. It had said the plea seeking a stay on the proceedings was “not maintainable” as the inquiry into the matter was at a preliminary stage.
The agency is probing allegations against Singh and his family members of having amassed wealth of Rs 6.1 crore disproportionate to his known sources of income between 2009 and 2011 when he was the Union minister of steel.
In July 2016, LIC agent Anand Chauhan was arrested by the ED under provisions of the PMLA as he was allegedly not cooperating with the investigating officer of the case.
The agency had alleged that Singh, while serving as the Union minister, had invested huge amounts in purchasing LIC policies in his and his family members’ names through Chauhan.