CBI needs HC order to investigate allegations against Virbhadra

CBI today told the Delhi High Court that it can probe allegations of corruption and bribery against Congress leader Virbhadra Singh during his tenure as chief minister of Himachal Pradesh in 2002 after the court issues the necessary order.

The submission was made by the agency in an affidavit placed before a bench of Acting Chief Justice B D Ahmed and Justice S Mridul which on April 4 had asked CBI to expedite the preliminary enquiry into the allegations of corruption and bribery against Singh and to take it to logical conclusion.

The agency, in its affidavit filed through Inspector Vijay Bahadur, has said that probe into the allegations against Singh pertaining to grant of Sai Koti hydel power project to Venture Energy and Technology Pvt Ltd on June 14, 2002 "would require order of the competent high court having jurisdiction".

Earlier, the court had expressed concern over the delay in investigating the matter and had said CBI cannot take so much time.

The affidavit was filed in relation to an application of NGO Common Cause seeking direction to CBI to probe allegations of corruption and bribery against Singh when he was CM of the state.

It had said that during his tenure as CM, the state government had allotted the Sai Koti hydel power project to Venture Energy and Technology Pvt Ltd on June 14, 2002.

"The said company defaulted in the execution of the project and the state government granted several extensions to the company. After Singh became the Chief Minister, his government granted it a further extension of 10 months. The decision was made on extraneous considerations," it has alleged.

In its main petition, the NGO has sought a court monitored CBI inquiry into allegations of money laundering, amassing disproportionate assets and criminal misconduct against Singh during his tenure as Union Steel Minister.

Singh has refuted the allegations.

The court has listed the matter for next hearing on April 30.