BackWhy don’t you join CBI’s investigation? Delhi HC asks Virbhadra Singh
The court was hearing arguments on the CBI's application seeking vacation of an Himachal high court order restraining the agency from acting against Virbhadra Singh
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New Delhi: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, who is accused of involvement in a money laundering and disproportionate assets case, was on Tuesday asked about the possibility of joining a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the matter.
“If you have the intention of joining the investigation, why are you not doing so? What is the problem?," justice Pratibha Rani asked.
The question was raised by the court as it was hearing arguments on the CBI’s application seeking vacation of an order of the Himachal high court restraining the agency from arresting, interrogating or filing a charge sheet against Virbhadra Singh.
Additional solicitor general P.S. Patwalia, appearing for the CBI, told the court that the matter should be addressed soon as the investigation in the case was being stalled because of the Himachal Pradesh interim order.
“We are in a situation where we cannot record Singh’s statement, interrogate him or file a charge sheet without taking the courts’ permission." he added.
Another important question raised was whether a modification of an order passed by a division bench could be heard by a single judge. To resolve this, it was stated that the court would refer the matter to the chief justice of the Delhi high court.
Virbhadra Singh had moved the Himachal high court following CBI searches at his homes in Delhi and Shimla in September, 2015 alleging mala fide intentions.
Singh had sought directions from the high court to quash CBI’s FIR registered in Delhi against him and others under Sections 13 (2) and 13(1)(e) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 2002 and Section 109 of the Indian Penal Code.
In November, the Supreme Court had transferred the disproportionate assets case to the Delhi high court.
The hearing continues on Wednesday.
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