The Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked the CBI to file a status report on its ongoing investigation into the alleged corruption complaint against Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh when he was the Union Steel Minister.
A division bench of Chief Justice NV Ramana and Justice Manmohan sought a status report from the CBI within six weeks on a complaint filed by advocate Prashant Bhushan and posted the matter for Feb 1, 2014.
Bhushan moved the High Court contending that a complaint had been made to the CBI but it had not bothered to initiate an investigation.
However, CBI counsel told the court that the agency had received the complaint and it was already investigating the case. The PIl filed by Bhushan stated that there were several primary documents like Income Tax returns and affidavits filed with nomination papers linking the Congress leader to “dubious transactions” and investments involving large sums of money when he was a minister in the Central Government.
But neither the Government nor any of its agencies bothered to initiate an investigation even after they were formally requested to do so by the petitioner, Bhushan said.
He made detailed complaints to the chief vigilance commissioner (CVC) and the CBI Jan 11. “Several acts of money laundering, corruption, possession of disproportionate assets and criminal misconduct were allegedly committed by Virbhadra Singh, which warrant a thorough and impartial investigation. But the same has not been initiated despite well documented complaints made by the petitioner,” the plea said.
It added that even the allegations fully supported by primary documents and which have been in public domain for months were not been probed.
“Inaction of the Government in ordering a fair and independent investigation despite there being a serious case of misuse of office for personal gain would encourage corruption in the country,” the PIl submitted.