The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday questioned Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh for over seven hours in connection with a case of disproportionate assets allegedly amassed during his stint as Union Minister.
CBI sources claimed that he failed to offer any explanation when confronted with evidence against him. However, when asked what kind of evidence was being referred to, they declined to elaborate. “The CBI has a fool-proof case against him, his associates and partners in criminal conspiracy regarding the assets acquired in the name of his children and wife,” an official said.
They claimed during questioning Singh put the onus of explaining the assets of wife and children on them. The sources said that his son Vikramaditya had claimed during CBI preliminary enquiry that some of his assets were from the money provided by his father.
CBI sources said the 81-year-old Chief Minister arrived at the CBI headquarters in his black Skoda with tinted glasses to avoid media glare around 10 am and was questioned till 5.30 pm.
The agency had initiated an inquiry, which had allegedly showed that Singh, while serving as the Union Minister during 2009-2012 (UPA rule), had allegedly accumulated assets worth Rs 6.03 crore (approx) in his name and in the name of his family members, which were found to be disproportionate to his known sources of income, CBI has said.
The FIR filed with a designated court in Delhi under the Prevention of Corruption Act, named Singh, his wife Pratibha, LIC agent Anand Chauhan and owner of Universal Apple Associates Limited Chunni
Lal Chauhan. The allegations have been strongly refuted by Singh.