Himachal CM's private secretary summoned by ED

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Tuesday said his principal private secretary Subhash Ahluwalia has been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate for examination.

"It is not a money laundering case. The summons received by Ahluwalia shows that it is a case under the Foreign Exchange Management Act," Virbhadra Singh said in the assembly.

He said the ED summoned him on Wednesday at its Chandigarh office.

Refuting allegations by the opposition BJP, which disrupted proceedings in the assembly on Monday and staged a walkout over its demand for a discussion on the state's move seeking to recall officer Bhupender Negi, who is investigating the case against Ahluwalia, the chief minister said Negi "is no way connected with the case".

"Thus the allegations of calling or threatening Negi are totally untrue. The allegations are politically motivated," he added.

Negi is currently posted in Shimla.

Official sources told IANS that Ahluwalia, a 1989 batch former Indian Administrative Service officer, is being accused of misusing state funds to acquire assets during his previous tenure as principal private secretary to Virbhadra Singh from 2003-07.

He has been asked for details about foreign remittances received by him from his children who are working in the US.

Ahluwalia was re-appointed principal private secretary in 2013.