Himachal CM threatens to file defamation case

Virbhadra said the corruption charges were baseless and threatened to file a defamation suit against Jaitley.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh denied Monday the allegation by BJP leader Arun Jaitley that he granted undue favours to a hydro power company under a quid pro quo deal in which his family allegedly got a Rs 3.9-crore private loan and said he was ready for a probe by any agency. He also rejected the demand for his resignation.

Virbhadra said the charges were baseless and threatened to file a defamation suit against Jaitley,who had accused the CM of corruption and misuse of power during the 2012 Assembly polls.

The BJP leader has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh detailing the charges and sought removal of the Congress leader from the post of CM. The charges are politically motivated with an eye on Lok Sabha polls. It is a malicious propaganda started by the BJP. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is free to get an inquiry done by any agency. It have done no wrong,not given favours to the company and person in question, Virbhadra told the media in Palampur.

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It is an attempt to tarnish my image. I will take action at an appropriate time as the allegations are highly defamatory, he said.

About the letter to Prime Minister,Virbhadra said: It is not the first time Jaitley has tried to target me. BJP leaders have been raking up the issue of my income-tax returns. The people have rejected the BJP. I will fight them (BJP leaders) administratively and politically.

The CM said he was being targeted since he had ordered an inquiry into corruption and misdeeds during BJP CM Prem Kumar Dhumals tenure. He said he had never indulged in corruption during his long political innings and always emerged clean despite repeated attempts by Dhumal to frame him in criminal cases. Even now,I will fight and get a clean chit.

Backing him,transport Minister G S Bali claimed the Saikothi project in question was cancelled by the state Cabinet as the company executing it Vakamulla Chandra-sekhar-owned Venture Energy and Technology failed to pay dues after grant of extension on September 4,2013. The Dhumal government sanctioned the project and granted repeated extensions. The project was cancelled by the Virbhadra government but later restored on the orders of the SC, he said.

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Dhumals son Arun Singh was the first to level the allegations. He had released documents also claiming that Virbhadras family,including his wife Pratibha,son Vikramaditya and daughter Aparajita,had shares worth Rs 9.8 lakh in another company of Chandrasekhar called Tarini Infrastructure.

Checking claims of insurance agent: CBI

New Delhi: The CBI Monday said they are still verifying the claims made by an insurance agent about depositing Rs 5 crore in a bank account in the name of Virbhadra Singh and his family. The agency also said the probe is in final stage and they will soon decide whether to file a regular case or not. The CBI registered a preliminary enquiry (PE) against unknown persons last year on a complaint from the State Trading Corporation. ENS