‘CBI can investigate DA case against Virbhadra Singh’, Agency tells Delhi HC

Himachal Pradesh CM Virbhadra Singh’s claim that the CBI had no jurisdiction over his disproportionate assets case, was comprehensively shot down by the agency in the Delhi High Court today..A Bench of Justice Pratibha Rani saw the agency, represented by ASG PS Patwalia, submit in Court that it had the jurisdiction to register and investigate the disproportionate assets case against Singh and his wife..During the hearing, the agency’s standing counsel Sanjeev Bhandari also sought for a modification of the order passed by the the High Court of Himachal Pradesh in October that had effectively restrained the agency from arresting, interrogating or filing a chargesheet against Singh. Patwalia stated that the said direction had “tied our hands completely”..Singh had also filed a petition in the Delhi High Court to quash the FIR filed by CBI. The agency further sought a dismissal of this petition, saying his prayer was ‘frivolous and not maintainable’..Singh, who was represented today by former law minister Dr. Ashwani Kumar, had questioned the CBI’s raids despite cases pending before the Delhi High Court, the Income Tax Tribunal and other tax authorities where all documents relating to his returns had been submitted. Responding to this, Patwalia submitted that this was well within the scope of investigation as some of the properties in question were situated in Delhi..After a brief hearing, the Bench granted time to both parties for filing their written submissions and adjourned the matter. It will now be heard on February 25.