Himachal CM fails to keep ED date; agency issues fresh summons

The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday issued fresh summons to Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh after he failed to appear before it in connection with a money laundering probe case.

The fresh summons require him to be present before the Investigating Officer (IO) of the case here on April 20.

Officials said the fresh summons were issued under PMLA provisions after the chief minister failed to keep the scheduled date on Thursday.

It was not immediately ascertained if Singh had communicated to the ED about the reasons for this absence on Thursday. The agency had, earlier this week, issued summons to Singh for personal appearance for on Thursday and in order to question him and record his statement under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The latest ED action has come close on the heels of filing of a charge sheet by the CBI against Singh, his wife and others for allegedly amassing assets worth around Rs 10 crore disproportionate to their known sources of income.

The agency had summoned Singh earlier also, but then he had excused himself stating his official commitments.

The ED has already questioned his wife Pratibha and son Vikramaditya in connection with the case. It had filed a case under the anti-money laundering law against the Himachal Pradesh CM.