Himachal ex-police chief booked for misuse of position

A case was registered Thursday against former Himachal Pradesh police chief D.S. Manhas by the vigilance and anti-corruption bureau for alleged misuse of his official position when he was commissioner of the Shimla Municipal Corporation.

"There is evidence of exercising personal influence by Manhas for getting cleared serious violations and encroachment in the construction of his private house in Shimla's plush locality," a police official told IANS.

Former director general of police (DGP) Manhas was booked under section 120-B of the Indian Penal Code, section 13-B of the Prevention of Corruption Act and various sections of the Shimla Municipal Corporation Act.

The case was registered in the state capital.

Sources said the municipal corporation and state urban development department had complained to the vigilance bureau about violations in Manhas's house.

"Prima facie a case was made out against Manhas for misuse of official position," said the official, who didn't wish to be identified.

Manhas, who retired in 2012, is alleged to have built an additional storey in the house without authorisation along with some encroachments.

The former police chief is known for his proximity with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal.

Manhas was DGP (Vigilance) when a case was made out Aug 3, 2009, against Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and his wife Pratibha Singh under the Prevention of Corruption Act for alleged misuse of official position and criminal misconduct when Singh was the chief minister in 1989.

When Virbhadra Singh was booked, the Dhumal-led BJP government was in power.

--Indo-Asian news Service

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