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Prima facie money laundering case exists against Virbhadra, Centre tells Delhi HC
R Sedhuraman
Legal Correspondent

Have full faith in judiciary: CM I have full faith in the judiciary and the investigating agencies. The false and fabricated cases made against me will fall flat and I will come out clean as has been the case in the past. Dhumal is trying to mislead everyone as the CBI and Income Tax authorities have been asked to file the status report in court. Virbhadra Singh, chief minister BJP not framing him: Dhumal There is no truth that BJP leaders were framing Virbhadra as all the developments took place under the Congress-led UPA government. All accused always plead not guilty. The investigations will bring out the truth. PK Dhumal, ex-cm and leader of opposition

New Delhi, August 6
The Centre today told the Delhi High Court that Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh was prima facie involved in a case of money laundering. This was evident from the material on record which was sufficient to register an FIR against Virbhadra Singh, Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain said.

Jain made the submission before a Bench comprising Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath after the PIL petitioner in the case contended that there could not be a clearer case of disproportionate assets case.

Appearing for the petitioner, NGO Common Cause, counsel Prashant Bhushan said the CBI had been conducting a preliminary inquiry for 18 months without registering an FIR despite the overwhelming evidence.

The CBI, which has filed a status report to the HC, sought more time to respond to the contentions. At this, the Bench said it would go through the CBI report and directed the Income Tax Department to file a status report. It slated the next hearing for August 20. The PIL has pleaded for a CBI and income tax probe into allegations of money laundering, corruption and possession of assets disproportionate to known sources of income against Virbhadra Singh.

The PIL has cited the revised income tax returns filed by the Himachal CM for assessment years 2009-12, raising his agriculture income from just Rs 47 lakh to Rs 6.5 crore and the LIC policies purchased by an individual for Rs 5 crore in the names of Virbhadra Singh, his wife and children.

The petition also contended that an income tax raid on a multinational steel company in November-December 2010 had shown that cash payments of about Rs 2.8 crore had been made to "VBS" during 2008-10 when Singh was Union Steel Minister.