Delhi HC to hear Himachal CM's plea in money laundering case

The Delhi High Court will today hear the petition moved by Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, seeking directions to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to provide him with the reasons on the basis of which, search and seizure was carried out at his premises in a money laundering case.

The petition was moved on May 16 before Justice Manmohan who listed the matter for hearing today.

In his petition, Singh has sought quashing of the April 19 order of the adjudicating authority and the May 12 decision of the appellate tribunal, which dismissed his pleas to provide him with the reasons to believe, which formed the basis for the search and seizure of documents.

In his plea, he has contended that reasons for initiating the search are ex-facie illegal, arbitrary and liable to be quashed.

On September 26 last year, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had searched the Chief Minister's residence and 10 other places in connection with the case.

Later, the ED conducted raids and summoned Singh for questioning in Delhi after the registration of the case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.