A Delhi Special CBI Court today issued notice to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on a plea of Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh’s wife Ms. Pratibha Singh over charge sheet filed against the royal couple in a disproportionate assets (DA) case by the agency. Special Judge Virender Kumar Goyal today fixed next date of hearing on May 1 in the matter while hearing the plea filed by Chief Minster’s wife recently.
CBI had filed a charge sheet against the Chief Minister on Mar 31 this year charging that he had amassed assets worth Rs 10 crore which were disproportionate by 192 per cent to his total income during his tenure as a Union Minister. Ms. Singh alleged in the plea that the agency had not followed the due process of law during investigation seeking in the matter that charge sheet filed against them should not be taken cognizance of. Including the Chief Minister and his wife, CBI filed a final report against nine accused under section 109 (abatement) and 465 (punishment for forgery) of IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act, arrayed around 225 witnesses and 442 documents.
Besides Octogenarian CM and Ms Singh agency named LIC agency Anand Chauhan, Universal Apple Associate owner Chunni Lal Chauhan, stamp paper vendor Joginder Singh Ghalta, MD of Tarani Infrastructure V Chandrasekhar among others as accused, charging them with criminal conspiracy, cheating and corruption among others. Mr Chauhan is currently in judicial custody. After making scrutiny CBI charge sheet, Special Court also fixed next date of hearing on the charge sheet on May 17 to take the cognizance in the matter.
Earlier Delhi High Court on Mar 31 has dismissed Mr. Singh petition filed before Himachal Pradesh High Court seeking quashing of FIR and protection from arrest. The Chief Minister also challenged Delhi High Court Mar 31 order of single judge bench of Justice Sanghvi in the double bench of Delhi High Court which was now listed for hearing tomorrow.
