Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has filed a defamation suit against BJP leaders Arun Jaitley, Prem Kumar Dhumal, Anurag Thakur and Arun Dhumal here today.

HP Chief Minister filed three defamation cases under 499 of IPC against Arun Jaitley, Prem Kumar Dhumal, Anurag Thakur and Arun Dhumal in the Court of CJM, Shimla.

Virbhadra Singh, while addressing media personnel at his official residence, said that the Dhumals and Arun Jaitley have unleashed a malicious campaign against him and his family members through media and so he was compelled to file defamation case.

He termed the BJP leaders propaganda as conspiracy ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. He said

I am not afraid of the slanderous onslaught by Dhumal and other BJP leaders and will face them boldly. With your support and love and affection of the people of the State I will give a befitting reply to the nefarious designs of the BJP leaders

Singh claimed that the Dhumal Govt. indulged in illegal phone tapping of their political opponents, their own ministers, officers and media persons, which is a serious scam. He said that Arun Jaitley and the Dhumals have been raising insignificant personal issues relating to income tax returns, loans etc., in the media since the time of Assembly Elections in Himachal Pradesh in October-November 2012 with cheap political motive.

He clarified that he and his Govt hadn’t granted any favour to M/s Venture Energy and Technology Ltd Company with regard to Sai-Kothi Project. He also defended the share holding of his family members in Tarini Infrastructure Ltd. He said that the shares purchased were fully paid up and were purchased as primary shares in 2009 and were approved in 2010-11.

He accused BJP leaders for deliberately suppressing relevant facts in their press conferences to suit their ulterior political motive. They have made selective opportunist disclosures and tried to mislead the people by twisting and concealing vital facts, he commented.

Earlier, BJP leader and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley had raised the issue of corruption against Singh during assembly election. Recently he wrote to PM and accused him for giving favour to private hydro power company. Dhumal and his sons have also launched campaign in state against CM and demanded CBI inquiry from in corruption allegations.