The Supreme Court of India has issued notices to Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh and his wife on an appeal filed by the CBI today and posted the matter for November 5, the next date of hearing
A Supreme Court bench of Justice Fakkir Mohamed Ibrahim Kalifulla and Justice Uday Umesh Lalit directed the chief minister and his wife to file reply to CBI’s appeal. Bench, however, did not allow the plea of Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for CBI, that the order of the Himachal Pradesh High Court be stayed.
Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi pleaded the HP High Court order restraining the CBI from interrogating the accused has stalled the investigations into the corruption case. Mr. Rohtagi also sought the suspension of the impugned order and further sought transfer of the case from Himachal to Delhi HC.
Advocate Kapil Sibbal appeared on behalf of the CM accepted the notice and sought time to file reply. Advocate P. Chidambaram appeared for Pratibha Singh and Rajiv Dhawan and Vivek Tankha, Sr. Advocates appeared for the state of Himachal Pradesh.
Earlier, the CBI has challenged a Himachal Pradesh high court order restraining the agency from interrogating or filing chargesheet against Singh and his wife in a disproportionate assets case.
