State Congress leader and former state education minister in Virbhadra Singh led Govt from 2003-05, Asha Kumari, who is accused of grabbing government forest land worth crores of rupees by tampering with revenue records and in this case evidence recording against her are likely to start from Monday.
Earlier, Chamba’s Special Judge Chirag Bhanu Singh Aug 14 framed charges of cheating and criminal conspiracy against Asha Kumari, who re-contested the assembly polls from Dalhousie in Chamba district, and listed the case for recording of evidences Dec 3-7. Beside Asha Kumari, there were 12 other accused, including her late husband Brijender Singh.
On Jan 4, 2005, a Himachal Pradesh court had charged Asha Kumari and others with grabbing more than 60 bighas of forest land near Dalhousie by tampering government records and fabricating wills in connivance with revenue officials. In December last year, the Supreme Court ruled that cheating and criminal conspiracy charges against Asha Kumari could not be quashed.
Challenging the trial court order, Asha Kumari had moved the Himachal Pradesh High Court which granted her relief by setting aside the Chamba court’s order on the grounds that she was denied an opportunity of being properly heard.
