Himachal CM’s plea to quash money laundering case dismissed
In a jolt to Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, the Delhi High Court (HC) on Monday dismissed his plea that sought the quashing of a money laundering case against him, his family members, and two others.
“The petitions are found to be devoid of substance and, consequently, dismissed with all pending applications,” Justice RK Gauba said.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had filed a case in September, 2015, against the CM, his wife Pratibha Singh, son Vikramditya Singh, and two others under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), after taking cognisance of a criminal complaint filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The CBI had filed a chargesheet on March 31, hours after the HC refused to quash the FIR lodged against the 83-year-old Singh and his wife in the disproportionate assets case.
The court dismissed the argument given by the petitioners that the case against them was driven by political vendetta, stating that the argument was not supported by any proof. “The prime argument of the petitioners is of political vendetta. This is not supported by any material. These proceedings are not the appropriate forum for the court to examine such pleas which, in the interest of the petitioners themselves, must …read more