Disproportionate assets: No relief for Virbhadra Singh and family
The Delhi HC has refused to quash the money laundering case against Himachal CM Virbhadra Singh and his family. The court termed the petitions of Singh, his wife Pratibha and son Vikramaditya "devoid of substance". In 2015, the ED had filed a case against Singh and his family after CBI findings that he owned assets worth Rs. 6.1cr, disproportionate to his known income sources.
Virbhadra Singh and family face corruption charges
In Jun'15, CBI booked a corruption case against Himachal CM Virbhadra Singh, his wife Pratibha, son Vikramaditya, and daughter Aparajita. He was booked for owning assets worth Rs.6.1cr disproportionate to his known income sources in 2009-11 when he was a union minister. On 23 Sep'15, CBI registered a FIR against Singh and Pratibha under Prevention of Corruption Act Sections-13(2) and 13(1)(e), and IPC Section-109.
Singh submits plea to HC
On 26 Sep'15, CBI raided Singh's properties to probe the disproportionate assets charges. He submitted a plea to the Himachal Pradesh High Court, after which he was granted an interim order restraining the CBI from interrogating, arresting, or filing a charge-sheet without the court's permission.
Supreme Court transfers the case to Delhi HC
CBI submitted a plea to the Supreme Court seeking a stay on the Himachal HC's order; however, it was rejected on 26 Oct'15. The SC then assigned the case to Delhi HC, which on 6 Apr'16, asked CBI not to arrest Singh and asked him to join the probe. On 5 Nov'16, the SC transferred Singh's plea from Himachal Pradesh HC to Delhi HC.
Disproportionate Assets case: CBI's charge-sheet against Himachal CM Virbhadra Singh
CBI charged the 82-year-old Himachal Pradesh CM Virbhadra Singh and his wife in a disproportionate assets case in a Special CBI Court. The charge-sheet filed before Judge Virender Kumar Goyal was against nine persons for alleged offenses punishable under IPC Section-109 (abetment) and Prevention of Corruption Act. The development came hours after Delhi HC rejected Singh's plea seeking to quash the disproportionate assets case.
LIC Agent Anand Chauhan named
The charge-sheet also named LIC agent Anand Chauhan, who is presently in judicial custody. On 9 Jul'16, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested him in a separate money laundering case that is related to the current case.
Disproportionate Assets case: Himachal CM Virbhadra Singh gets bail
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, along with others, was granted bail by a CBI court in the Rs. 10cr disproportionate assets case. Singh was granted bail after furnishing Rs. 1L as surety. The other accused include LIC agent Anand Chauhan, his associate Chunni Lal, Joginder Singh Ghalta, Prem Raj, and Ram Prakash Bhatia.
