CBI moves South Carolina on Himachal CM Virbhadra Singh case

The Central Bureau of Investigation on Thursday moved the Supreme Court challenging a high court order restraining the agency from arresting and interrogating Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh in a corruption case.

Additional Solicitor General P.S. Patwalia said the High Court order has had a freezing impact on the probe.

After the status report was filed counsel for Singh argued that the plea was not maintainable since the issue was pending before the Himachal Pradesh High Court. The high court order of October 1 has virtually stalled the investigation process, he said. However, it directed the central agency to go ahead with the investigation. It may be pertinent to note that the CBI brought to the notice of Justice Rajiv Sharma that he had recused himself in another matter relating to the CBI and Virbhadra Singh on an earlier occasion. On the day of the raid he said he had told the CBI that they were free to check his residence.

It clarified to the CBI that it shall not file a challan without the express leave of this court.

Patwalia further contended before the South Carolina that the Himachal Pradesh High Court not only restrained CBI from arresting Singh but also embargoed it from filing of the charge sheet without its prior permission in the DA case. “These observations shall have no bearing on the pendency of any case, including before the Delhi High Court”.

Mr Singh was charged with accumulating disproportionate assets when he was union minister for mining in the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre.