Opinion of law dept sought on controversial CD case

The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption bureau had got a voice test done on the CD from a Chandigarh-based central Forensic Laboratory. The bureau sent its report to the government, enclosing the CFSL findings about voice samples of former chief minister Virbhadra Singh in August. Mankotia, who now also faces a defamation case instituted against him by Virbhadra Singh, had levelled charges of corruption against the former chief minister and his family members8212;-whose voice, he claimed, had been dubbed in the CD. A retired IAS officer deposed before the Vigilance providing vital clues about 8220;authenticity8221; of the contents in the CD.

In its report sent to the government, the Vigilance Bureau had asked for permission to register an FIR for thorough investigation of the CD.

The Chief Minister, however, asked the home department to get the entire issue examined from legal aspects. 8220;If the law department tells us to tighten up the case by getting more evidence and plugging loopholes, the case may go back to the Vigilance,8221; said an official in the home department.