Virbhadra files being dug up for CBI
From S.P. Sharma
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Dec 24 — A red carpet reception by the BJP-HVC combine government awaits the CBI team which is expected to come here to collect evidence against Congress leader and former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh.

There is much enthusiasm among the ruling party circles which had been pressurising the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, to expedite the CBI action.

The entire issue has by now acquired political overtones as the HVC leader, Mr Sukh Ram, is allegedly trying to take his revenge by getting the CBI enquiry ordered against Mr Virbhadra Singh.

High-level meetings are being held in the Secretariat almost every day to finalise the files which are to be handed over to the CBI for fishing out evidence against the former Chief Minister.

The Chief Secretary, Mr O.P. Yadav, yesterday held a meeting of senior officers of various departments and asked them to keep the files concerned ready for being handed over to the CBI.

There was excitement among the HVC activists following the CBI asking the State Government for its support in collecting evidence from official files against Mr Virbhadra Singh.

The preliminary inquiry by the CBI is expected to he held on the allegations listed in the "charge sheet" of the HVC against Mr Virbhadra Singh which was prepared by Mr Sukh Ram and his supporters.

Only after looking into the files will the CBI decide whether a case could be made out against the former Chief Minister.

It is learnt that out of the nearly 40 allegations, the CBI has sought records pertaining to 11 charges. These include handing over of the Wildflower Hall Hotel complex to private hands for construction, incentives to the Ambuja Cement factory, purchases by the HRTC, setting up of a private engineering college at Kala Amb near Nahan and compensation to a relative of Mr Virbhadra Singh for acquisition of land.

There are differences of opinion among top officers regarding reopening of various cases against Mr Virbhadra Singh which have already been adjudicated by the courts. They fear that they might face contempt proceedings if these were again touched without orders of the higher court. Some of the complaints have also been decided by the Lokayukata.

The Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, has been facing repeated threats of review of his party's support by Mr Sukh Ram in case the former did not order a CBI probe into Mr Virbhadra Singh's actions.

Mr Dhumal has said that his Government would cooperate fully with the CBI in collecting evidence. There will be no witch-hunting and law will take its own course.

On the other hand, Mr Virbhadra Singh has alleged that the entire show was politically motivated.

He has said that the so-called allegations referred to the CBI have already either been judicially determined up to the Supreme Court or are pending decision before the courts of law.

He has also made it clear that without prejudice to his rights available in law, any preliminary inquiry, if conducted, should be scrupulously fair, impartial and without any predetermined perception.

Goswami is Chief Secretary of Himachal
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Dec 24 — The Himachal Pradesh Government today appointed Mr A.K. Goswami as the new Chief Secretary of the State by removing Mr O.P. Yadav from the post.

A 1966 batch IAS officer, Mr Goswami is at present Chairman of the HPSEB and also Secretary of Power. He will continue to hold these charges.

He was earlier on deputation with the Centre in the Ministry of Commerce.

Mr Yadav has been sent outside the Secretariat and appointed Chairman of the H.P. Financial Corporation.

Mr Yadav was appointed Chief Secretary soon after the BJP-HVC combine government came into power in March. However, there were indications that he was not pulling on well with the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal.

In a reshuffle of the top bureaucracy, Mrs C.P. Sujaya, Additional Chief Secretary, has also been removed from the post and appointed Chairperson of the H.P. State Industrial Development Corporation.

Mr Harsh Gupta, Financial Commissioner, Industries, has been promoted as Additional Chief Secretary. He will continue to look after the Industries Department.

Mrs Asha Swarup, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Home and Vigilance, has been promoted as Financial Commissioner, with the same portfolio.

Mr Yogesh Khanna, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Agriculture, Horticulture and Technical Education, has been promoted as Financial Commissioner. He will continue to look after these departments.

Another bureaucratic reshuffle is expected soon.