In a bid to speed up probe into the Congress chargesheet against previous BJP government, Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau has shortlisted 16 allegations for immediate investigation and has submitted to the Home Department for their approval.

Earlier, Tuesday, the vigilance bureau had made a detailed presentation to the chief minister and other government functionaries to apprise them about the present status of allegations. In that meeting, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh had directed the Vigilance bureau to focus on selected charges instead of a simultaneous probe into all 54 charges, shortlisted by the Bureau out of total 64 allegations in the Congress chargesheet.

The list includes the alleged favouritism to the Bemloe builders for constructing luxury cottages in thick forest area, alleged land deals by former Health Minister Rajeev Bindal and Anurag Thakur, the allotment of shops in Dharamsala, land purchased around Annandale ground, alleged irregularities in allotting land, constructing a hotel and setting up a ground in Dharamsala by the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) and Police security during the Indian domestic league (IPL) matches.

The vigilance bureau also sought permission from Home Department to probe the allegations pertaining to three IAS and one IFS officer who were close to former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal. High-security number plates, purchases of CFL bulbs, irregularities in shoes bought for cops, misutilisation of funds under NHRM and recruitments in the Solan municipal council have also came under Vigilance and has sought permission to probe into these as well.

Vigilance bureau has also sought permission to probe alleged irregularities in the purchase of land by private universities, JP Company and irregularities in the allotment of forest land to private parties for eco-tourism projects.