M A I N   N E W S

Virbhadra Singh, five MLAs booked
Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 18
The Himachal Government today registered an FIR against Mr Virbhadra Singh, the Leader of Opposition, and seven other Congress leaders in connection with the alleged abduction and illegal confinement of Mr Ramesh Dhawala, Irrigation and Public Health Minister, on March 5,1998 on the basis of the Kainthla Commission report.

Besides Mr Virbhadra Singh, Mr Harsh Mahajan, Mr G.S. Bali, Mr Chander Kumar, Mrs Viplove Thakur and Mrs Asha Kumari, all legislators, Mr Sagar Prasher and Mr Atul Sharma have been named in the FIR.

The 25-page report of the Kainthla Commission formed the contents of the FIR.

The accused persons have been charged with hatching a conspiracy to abduct Mr Dhawala to secure his support for forming the government in the wake of a hung Assembly.

The Commission inquired into the alleged law and order incidents which took place at Ghora Chowki, Bus stand Chalet Day school on March 5, 1998 and at the PWD rest house, near the Raj Bhavan on the following day.

The decision to file a case was taken at the recent Cabinet meeting and after obtaining legal opinion the police was asked to register the FIR.