CBI files chargesheet against Himachal CM, eight others

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday filed a chargesheet against Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and others in connection with a disproportionate assets case.

The CBI filed the chargesheet here before Special Judge Virender Kumar Goyal, who has listed the matter for Saturday for consideration of the investigation report.

Besides Virbhadra Singh, his wife Pratibha Singh, Life Insurance Corporation agent Anand Chauhan, his associate Chunni Lal, Joginder Singh Ghalta, Prem Raj, Lawan Kumar Roach, Vakamullah Chandrashekhara and Ram Prakash Bhatia are also chargesheeted in the case.

The CBI has booked the accused under various sections of the Indian Penal Codecdealing with abetment and forgery and under the provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act.

In its report, the CBI has cited around 220 witnesses to support its allegations.

The Delhi High Court earlier on Friday dismissed the plea of the Chief Minister and his wife seeking to quash an FIR registered by the CBI against them, in connection with a case of corruption.

The Central Bureau of Investigation had registered the case on September 23, 2016, under the Prevention of Corruption Act against Virbhadra Singh, his wife Pratibha Singh, Life Insurance Corporation agent Anand Chauhan and an associate Chunni Lal.

The case was registered after a preliminary inquiry found that Virbhadra Singh, during his term as a Union minister from 2009 to 2012, allegedly accumulated assets worth Rs 6.03 crore, which were disproportionate to his known sources of income.

--IANS

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