Himachal CM Virbhadra Singh embarrassed again; ED attaches property worth Rs 5.4 cr in DA case

NewsBharati    14-Oct-2017
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New Delhi, October 14: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh gets a massive setback just after Election Commission announced the forthcoming assembly elections in the state. Notably, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday attached assets of Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh worth Rs 5.6 crore in connection with disproportionate assets case.

 

The assets of CM Virbhadra Singh including a portion of a farmhouse at Dera Mandi in Delhi in the name of a company called Tarini International which costs Rs 4.2 crore, fixed assets of Ms Tarini Infra Damanganga project at Vapi in Gujarat, shares worth Rs 64 lakh of the Chief Minister's son, Vikramaditya Singh, and Rs 80 lakh in fixed deposits belonging to his daughter and wife were also seized under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

The ED investigation team in a press statement said the assets, both movable and immovable, are in the name of the Chief Minister's son Vikramaditya Singh, daughter Aprajita Singh and wife Pratibha Singh. Also, the ED said it has issued a provisional order of attachment under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). “So far, assets worth 40 crore rupees have been attached in this case,” the statement added. 
The CBI registered the case on 23.09.2015 against then Union Minister, his wife, two private persons and unknown others on the allegations of possession of Disproportionate Assets. Virbhadra Singh had invested the money in LIC policies in his name, that of his wife and other family members. Earlier, Delhi High Court also allowed the CBI to file the charge sheet by rejecting the objections raised by Virbhadra and the Himachal government.

Singh was first asked to appear before the ED on April 13 but he did not present himself before the agency, prompting the Investigating Officer to re-issue summons for April 20. His appearance before the ED came even as the agency refused to give any assurance in the Delhi High Court that it will not arrest Singh when he appears before it.

ED also attached Virbhadra’s farmhouse with a market value of Rs 27 crore. ED also issued a provisional order attaching the farmhouse located in south Delhi's Mehrauli area under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). After attaching the farmhouse, the agency said the book value of the asset is Rs 6.61 crore but its market value is "worth Rs 27 crore and is in the name of "Maple Destinations & Dreambuild".

Interestingly, Himachal’s CM Virbhadra Singh has maintained the rejection of all the allegations made upon him and termed as ‘political vendetta’.

Himachal CM Virbhadra Singh Money Laundering Case Disproportionate Asset Case Enforcement Directorate Corruption