Virbhadra demands CBI probe, FIR against Dhumal in CD case

Union Minister Virbhadra Singh on Saturday demanded a CBI probe and registration of case against Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal in connection with the controversy over CDs purportedly containing the voice of Dhumal ordering tapping of Singh's telephone.

Union Minister Virbhadra Singh on Saturday demanded a CBI probe and registration of case against Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal in connection with the controversy over CDs purportedly containing the voice of Dhumal ordering tapping of Singh's telephone.

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"When an FIR can be registered against me on the basis of a false and fabricated CD released against me in 2007, why not the same be done now?," Singh told reporters here, adding there should not be two sets of rules.

Dismissing the CID inquiry as an "eyewash", Singh said as the bigwigs like CM and Director General of Police (vigilance) are allegedly involved in the matter, a state agency has limited scope to act against them.

"Only a probe by CBI can unravel the truth in the matter," Singh, who had served as Himachal CM for five times before becoming a Union Minister, said.

He said "somebody within the BJP is actually the director and producer of the CDs."

Singh said telephone tapping of a central minister was a "serious offence" and urged Union Home ministry to take strong note of the matter.

On Dhumal dubbing the CDs as "fabricated and a cut-and-paste exercise", Singh said unlike audio cassettes from which a CD was created against him, it was hard to fabricate a CD.

Singh demanded that Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar take cognisance of BJP MP from Shimla (reserved) Virendra Kashyap purportedly featuring in a video CD showing him acce