Virbhadra in trouble, faces graft charges

Jun 26, 2012 - Tanveer Thakur |

Age Correspondent

In a major setback to Union minister Virbadhra Singh, a Shimla special court on Monday framed corruption charges against him and his wife, former MP Pratibha Singh, in a case of criminal misconduct.

The order by special judge B.L. Soni came two days after Mr Singh, a former Himachal chief minister, celebrated his 78th birthday and 50 years in politics in Shimla, and staked claim to the CM’s post for the sixth time.
After the court order, however, his political adversaries are seeking his resignation. Mr Virbhadra Singh had himself said recently he would resign if charges were framed against him.
Mr Singh met Congr-ess president Sonia Gandhi on Monday eve-ning, triggering speculation on his resignation. Earlier Monday, public prosecutor Jiwan Lal Sharma said the charges against the Union minister were framed Sections 7, 11 and 13 of the Preve-ntion of Corruption Act and Section 120-B of the Indian Penal Code.
His wife was charged under Section 9 of the corruption law and the IPC. Virbhadra and Pratibha Singh were booked by the police on August 3, 2009 for alleged misuse of official position and criminal misconduct 23 years ago when he was CM in 1989.
A political rival, Vijay Singh Mankotia, released a CD in 2007 highlighting the issue. It allegedly has a recording of the former CM’s conversation with an IAS officer, and also the voices of his wife and some businessmen.

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