The Single bench of Delhi High Court today asked Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh why he didn’t join the probe in the disproportionate assets case registered against him by the CBI however the court later deferred the heqring for tomorrow.
Hearing the matter today single judge bench of Delhi High court Justice Pratibha Rani told Virbhadra Singh that he has been named in the FIR by the CBI and he should join the probe to end up the matter. ”Why don’t you join the investigation and finish it. Ultimately, you have to join it,” Justice Pratibha Rani told to chief minister who was protected from arrest or interrogation by an order of the Himachal Pradesh High Court.
Making oral observation in the case in the court today Justice Pratibha Rani said: “If you have intention to join the investigation, join it.”
Appearing for Mr. Singh senior counsel Mr. Kapil Sibel said that Mr. Singh has no problem in joining investigation and he would join it soon.
Additional Solicitor General P.S. Patwalia told the court that the investigation in the case was “seriously held up” adding that the central agency had completed a dossier in the case and the “facts which have come up are serious”.
The court, however, did not pass any order to ask Virbhadra Singh to join the probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation.
Appearing for Ms. Pratibha Singh senior counsel Mr. Ram Jetthmalani told the court that since Himachal Pradesh High Court order was passed by a two-judge division bench the single judge bench of Delhi high court could not hear the case and it referred to the division bench.
On this plea Justice Pratibha Rani sought clarification on whether the case could be heard by a single-judge bench and she referred the case to Delhi High Court Chief Justice G. Rohini to decide whether single judge bench could continue the hearing of the case posting the matter for Wednesday.
On Oct 1, 2015 Himachal Pradesh High Court granted relief to Mr Singh restraining CBI from arresting or interrogating or filing a charge sheet against accused who had been charged for amassing Rs.6 crore DA case along with his former Congress MP Ms. Pratibha Singh and others.
CBI was pressing the Delhi High Court to vacate the bar by the HP HC alleging that order was hampering and delaying the probe in the matter.
