The Central Bureau of Investigation has readied a charge sheet against Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, his family members and others in connection with an alleged disproportionate assets case. The agency will soon move the court seeking permission to file the charge sheet.
According to the agency, as Union Steel Minister, Mr. Singh had allegedly amassed assets worth Rs. 10 crore disproportionate to his known sources of income during 2009-12.
Last September, the CBI registered a case against Mr. Singh, his wife Pratibha Singh and others, alleging accumulation of disproportionate assets of Rs. 6.03 crore in his name and that of his family members. The agency also alleged that the money was invested in immovable properties and life insurance policies.
“A large part of it was later shown as agricultural income. However, the Income Tax Department found the declaration untenable. Investigations were conducted to determine the genuineness of the documents used to back the claim. Money was also routed through several shell companies,” said an official.
ED probeThe Enforcement Directorate has registered a money laundering case on the basis of the CBI probe and arrested one accused, Anand Chauhan, the LIC agent, who allegedly bought life insurance policies in the name of Mr. Singh and his family members. The ED has also attached assets worth Rs.8 crore.
