Virbhadra denies bribe charges,says ‘cheap political stunt’

“I challenge anyone to prove that any undue favour was accorded to ISPAT Industries… this company was not favoured by the Steel Ministry in any way during my tenure,” said Singh.

“I am surprised that the IT department or any other government department never bothered to get in touch with me or questioned me on this issue. I am hearing about it for the first time through media reports,” said Singh.

Stating that he was “willing to face any inquiry in this regard by any agency”,Singh contested media reports which claimed that payments were made to one ‘VBS’. “First and foremost,I do not write my initials as VBS but as VS,” he said.

Supporting Singh,Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Sonia said: “Obviously,there are question marks about the timing of the allegations. As I understand,the papers relate to a time two years back. They are being used now to make charges at a time when the state is going to polls and Congress is on the upsurge. It is an attempt to derail the Congress campaign. But the good thing is that people see through these scheming very easily.”

Meanwhile,Vinod Mittal,who was the promoter of Ispat Industries when the alleged payoffs were made,refused to comment saying he was not aware of the details as he was abroad.

“I am not in India… Right now I am in such a place where there is no Internet. So I cannot comment now,I have not seen the documents,” Mittal told PTI over phone. “You can ask JSW Steel and Sajjan Jindal. They are the promoters of Ispat now.”

Mittal said he would return to Mumbai on Wednesday.

JSW Steel had acquired 41 per cent stake in Ispat Industries in December 2010. JSW Steel last month announced its merger with Ispat Industries.

In reply to an email query,a JSW spokesperson said controversy pertains to a period before Ispat was acquired by JSW.

“The period referred in your email is prior to acquisition by JSW Steel. The previous management can only clarify on this issue,” the spokesperson said.

With ENS,Delhi