Sign in

My property is ancestral, ED engaged in false propaganda against me: Virbhadra

The ED will soon take possession of assets worth Rs 8 crore of CM Virbhadra Singh and his wife Pratibha after a special anti-money laundering court in Shimla confirmed the agency's provisional order in this regard.

Updated on: Oct 4, 2016, 24:53:22 IST
Hindustan Times | By , Shimla
Share
Share via
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
Copy link
  • copy link

Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh on Monday blamed enforcement directorate - investigating cases of disproportionate assets against him -- for running a slander to malign his image at the behest of Bharatiya Janata Party leaders.

HP chief minister Virbhadra Singh with his wife Pratibha Singh and son Vikramaditya during a rally in Mandi. (PTI file photo)
HP chief minister Virbhadra Singh with his wife Pratibha Singh and son Vikramaditya during a rally in Mandi. (PTI file photo)

"For long, I have been noticing that news against me begins to appear, my cases are listed for hearing before my case comes up for hearing. Enforcement directorate is engaged in a false propaganda against me ," Singh said in Shimla.

"If it is not a slander against me then why doesn't enforcement directorate highlight facts, or issues a written statement to all the newspapers in New Delhi - its national hub?

“Whatever the property I have is ancestral. They (ED) cannot touch it," the CM added.

The ED will soon take possession of assets worth Rs 8 crore of CM Virbhadra Singh and his wife Pratibha after a special anti-money laundering court in Shimla confirmed the agency's provisional order in this regard.

“Whatever I have inherited ancestrally, I am maintaining it. These properties were given to me by the government during the mergers of the state with Indian Union," he said, adding that he is “retaining the properties whatever limit is prescribed to me by the government.”

The agency had recently also questioned Virbhadra's son Vikramaditya in this case.

The CM has denied allegations of any wrongdoing by him or his family. An attachment order under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) is aimed at depriving the accused from obtaining benefits of their alleged ill-gotten wealth and such an order issued by the ED can be appealed before the adjudicating authority of the said Act within 180 days.

  • Gaurav Bisht
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Gaurav Bisht

    Gaurav Bisht heads Hindustan Times’ Himachal bureau. He covers politics in the hill state and other issues concerning the masses.

Follow India news real-time updates and the latest news covered on Hindustan Times, featuring today's critical updates on Sonam Wangchuk LIVE and more across India.