NEW DELHI, Apr 2: The Delhi High Court today asked CBI to expedite the preliminary enquiry into allegations of corruption and bribery against Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and to take it to its logical conclusion, saying the agency cannot take so much time. “Why are you not speeding it (preliminary enquiry) up? Fact of the matter is to do it fast whatever you are doing. You cannot take so much time.
“We are of the view that the preliminary enquiry (PE) ought to be speeded up and taken to its logical conclusion,” a bench of Acting Chief Justice B D Ahmed and Justice S Mridul said.
The court also sought within two weeks an up-to-date status report from CBI on what steps it has taken so far regarding the allegations against Singh.
The bench also sought the agency’s reply on an application, filed by advocate Prashant Bhushan on behalf of NGO Common Cause, alleging that Virbhadra Singh’s wife and kids have obtained unsecured loans of crores of rupees from some private companies which in return have been granted favours by the HP Chief Minister.
“Payoffs have been shown as loans,” Bhushan claimed before the court.
During the proceedings, Bhushan contended that despite having all documentary evidence for more than two years, the agency is still conducting preliminary enquiry and not even an FIR has been lodged against Singh.
The bench agreed with Bhushan and said,”He is right. You cannot take so much time.
Bhushan also sought directions to lodge an FIR against Singh, but the court said it will first go through the updated status report.
The court also went through the CBI’s status report filed earlier in a sealed cover as per which the PE is still going on. The report was again put back into the sealed cover by the bench.
Earlier, the NGO had filed an interim application in the pending PIL seeking a direction to CBI to probe allegations of corruption and bribery against Singh.
The plea had sought a court-monitored CBI inquiry into allegations of money laundering, amassing disproportionate assets and criminal misconduct against Singh during his tenure as Union Steel Minister. Singh has refuted the allegations.
It had said the State Government had allotted a hydel power project to a firm on June 14, 2002.
“The said company defaulted in the execution of the project and the State Government granted several extensions to the company. After Singh became the Chief Minister, his Government granted it a further extension of 10 months. The decision was made on extraneous considerations,” it had said.
On November 27 last year, the high court had asked CBI to file a status report on the action taken by it regarding the corruption allegations against Singh raised in the PIL after the agency said it was conducting an inquiry into the matter.
The PIL, filed against the Centre, CVC, CBI, Singh and Directorate General of Income Tax, has alleged he made a large amount of money through dubious sources and showed it as agricultural income to gain exemption from income tax and despite complaints to the Centre, CBI and CVC, no action has been taken so far, which shows malafide on their part. (PTI)
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