Money laundering case: BJP seeks Himachal CM’s ouster

ED has registered a money laundering case against Singh under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after taking cognisance of a criminal complaint filed by the CBI in this regard in September.

Describing the Congress silence over it as “shameful”, BJP said the Sonia-led party has tried to dismiss the corruption charges against Singh.

“BJP has been taking up the issue of corruption against the chief minister while Congress has not only kept quite but also tried to white wash the charges against him,” party secretary and in-charge of Himachal Pradesh Srikant Sharma said in a statement.

“The silence of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi in such a serious case of corruption is shameful. They are very active in making tall claim and do nothing when it comes to corruption,” the statement added.

Taking on Singh, the longest serving chief minister of Himachal Pradesh, BJP said he has lost moral right to remain on his post and should resign immediately. Referring to the Congress stand on corruption during the last Parliament session, BJP said, “it has also exposed the double standard of Congress as it has disrupted the monsoon session on the issue of alleged corruption involving NDA leaders.” 

Asking the Congress to take action, BJP said,”If there is any morality left in the top brass of Congress then it must force Singh to resign.” 

Meanwhile, Agency sources said investigators have gathered some “important” documents to probe and detect the “proceeds of crime” allegedly channelled by Singh and his associates by using purported illegal funds.

ED investigators are also expected to question Singh and his other associates soon.

The agency will work to investigate the allegation that Singh and his family members allegedly amassed wealth of Rs 6.1 crore between 2009-11, disproportionate to his known sources of income, while serving as the Union Minister of Steel.

“The ED will also carry out the stipulated action of attachment of assets after investigations reach a proper stage,” a source said.

The CBI FIR had named Singh, his wife Pratibha Singh, LIC agent Anand Chauhan and Chauhan’s brother C L Chauhan and they were charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

CBI suspects that during the 2009-11 period, Singh allegedly invested Rs 6.1 crore in life insurance policies in his and his family members’ names through LIC agent Chauhan claiming this money to be his agricultural income.

It alleged Singh attempted to legitimise the same as agricultural income by filing revised Income-Tax returns in 2012. “The agricultural income as claimed by him in his revised ITRs was not found to be tenable. The then Union minister had allegedly accumulated other assets disproportionate to known sources of income,” CBI had alleged.

CBI had also carried out searches at various premises belonging to Singh and family immediately after filing the FIR and the Congress party had then termed the action as “highly vindictive”.

The sources said the ED headquarters in Delhi will handle the case with assistance from the agency’s office in Shimla.