HimVani
Shimla (Dec 17): Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has expressed surprise over the statement issued by Union Steel Minister Virbhadra Singh which has appeared in a section of the press today, and termed it clear violation of the orders passed by the court in the CD/cassette case.
The court in its order had imposed four conditions before granting bail to him, which were: (i) accused (Virbhadra Singh and his wife Pratibha Singh) shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him from disclosing such facts to the court or tamper with the evidence; (ii) they shall not commit similar offence during the pendency of this case; (iii) they shall attend the Court in accordance with the conditions of the bonds; and (iv) they shall not leave India without prior permission of this Court. “The newspaper reports, quoting Shri Virbhadra Singh clearly show that he has violated the conditions imposed upon him by the court yesterday,” Dhumal said.
He said that Singh has been chief minister of the state for several times and should not blame others for his personal problems; rather he should have self introspection. “He has misled the court by filing a false affidavit in the case and a separate case can be registered in the matter against him for the same,” Dhumal said.
Prof. Dhumal reminded Shri Virbhadra Singh that he had taken a plea before the Hon’ble High Court that there was no need to hand over the case to CBI for probe and State Vigilance Department was capable of handling the same.
He said that the arguments made by Shri Virbhadra Singh and his Learned Counsel after getting copy of the challan, had already been made repeatedly before the Single and Double Benches of Hon’ble High Court, and now the baseless statements being made by him are defamatory to the directions of the Learned Court.
Chief Minister said that it would not be out of place to point out here that it was the same IPS Officer whom he has selected as his Private Secretary, was holding the post of SP Vigilance and had prepared FIR against him on the basis of which challan has been prepared.
Normally the post of Private Secretary to Union Minister is held by an IAS officer. Shri Virbhadra Singh needs to clarify to the people of Himachal Pradesh reasons for showering his affection over the same IPS officer who had prepared the FIR in corruption case against him. Let him explain why the same person has been taken over as his private secretary.
Mr. Singh also needs to make it clear that who had burnt the original Gazetteer of Shimla and produced a new one to hide some vital facts; whether the surplus land ordered by the Financial Commissioner to be returned to the State Government, has been returned to the State by him; on whose intervention had the Sagar Katha Case been transferred from this very Learned Court to the Hon’ble High Court, when charges were to be framed against him? Actually the statement issued by Shri Virbhadra Singh, reveals his frustration which is totally against legal facts which are gaining strength against him and he is trying to put up a brave face.
Prof. Dhumal said that it was during the regime of Shri Virbhadra Singh that the police force was used to victimize his political opponents and his own party leaders which is a sad part of the history of Himachal Pradesh.
Chief Minister advised Mr Singh to have self-introspection since his age and stage does not coincide with such an irresponsible behaviour. He should honestly admit his mistakes and tender unconditional apology to the people of Himachal Pradesh.
He should honour the orders of the Learned Court graciously and not indulge in uncalled for statements to gain political mileage
