Dhumal seeks probe into charges of amassing assets

BJP leader and former two-time chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal demanded a probe and action from Prime Minister Narendra Modi into the charge that he and his family amassed assets disproportionate to their known sources of income.

In a letter, provided to the media by the BJP on Sunday, Dhumal said the Congress government had unleashed a malicious campaign against him and his family since it came to power (in December 2012).

"Like on previous occasions, a list of assets allegedly owned by me and my family has been sent to the state additional director general of vigilance. The complaint is without any affidavit," said the letter dated August 7.

On the basis of this list, the chief minister (Virbhadra Singh) and the vigilance officials have been conducting a misinformation campaign against him, said Dhumal.

Asking the prime minister to secure an affidavit from the complainant, Dhumal said an inquiry either by a judge of the Supreme Court or by the CBI should be conducted into the allegations.

"If there is any disclosure of property, other than mentioned either in the affidavits on properties and assets filed along with nomination papers by my family or in the income tax returns, it should be seized and a case should be initiated against me as per law," he said.

"If the allegations are proved wrong, then proceedings should be initiated against the complainant and those behind this malicious campaign," the BJP leader said.

Dhumal's elder son Anurag Thakur is secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India and a three-time MP from Hamirpur.

His youngest son Arun Dhumal is vice president of the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association.

The former chief minister said similar allegations were levelled against him by the Congress during the 2003 assembly elections too.