Shimla: Union Steel Minister Virbhadra
Singh today approached Himachal Pradesh High Court requesting
that Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and DGP D S Minhas be
investigated in connection with the infamous CD case.
In a fresh petition, Singh and his wife Pratibha also
sought transfer of the probe in the case, in which they are
the main accused, to the CBI.
The FIR against Virbhadra was registered last year on the
basis of a CD that purportedly had his voice, besides that of
his wife Pratibha Singh who is a former Congress MP.
The CD was released by former Congress minister Vijay
Singh Mankotia in 2007 claiming it contained voice of Singh
and his wife talking to retired IAS officer Mohinder Singh
about alleged corruption.
In the petition, Singh pointed out that during the
earlier tenure of Dhumal, similar charges were made against
him but he was found not guilty.
At that time, the state government mentioned that CD
was vague and investigation could not be conducted in the
matter, the petitioners contended.
However, immediately after Dhumal took over as chief
minister again, the state government changed its stand and the
investigation was handed over to Vigilance and Anti-Corruption
Bureau and an FIR was registered against Singh and his wife on
August 3, 2008.
The petitioners, thereafter, moved the High Court for
quashing the FIR and transfer of investigation to CBI which
was disposed off by the HC, observing that the probe cannot be
transferred to CBI under section 482 CrPC.
Now, the petitioners have approached the HC under Article
226 of the Indian constitution, seeking direction for
transfer of the case to CBI.
The petition would come up for hearing on Thursday.
PTI
