The Enforcement Directorate has attached assets worth about Rs. 8 crore against Virbhadra Singh.
New Delhi:
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) today questioned Virbhadra Singh's wife Pratibha in connection with an alleged money laundering case against her, the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister and others.
The agency had earlier issued summons to her to appear before the Investigating Officer (IO) of the case today.
Official sources said the IO will record her statement under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
She had twice sought exemption from appearing before the agency citing personal reasons even as she moved the Delhi High Court seeking protection from arrest by the agency till next hearing of the said case on August 24.
ED had yesterday told the High Court that it has no intention as of now to arrest Pratibha.
Sources had earlier said the questioning of the Chief Minister's wife was "essential" to thoroughly probe the case after some revelations in this regard were made by LIC agent Anand Chauhan, who was arrested by the agency last month in the said case.
The agency has also attached assets worth about Rs eight crore against the Chief Minister earlier this year. Mr Singh has denied allegations of any wrongdoing by him and his family.
ED had filed a case under criminal provisions of money laundering laws after taking cognisance of a complaint filed by the CBI in this regard in September last year.
It had also conducted searches in this case last year in Delhi, Maharashtra and West Bengal.
The agency is probing allegations against Mr Singh and his family members of having amassed wealth of Rs 6.1 crore between 2009-11, disproportionate to his known sources of income, while serving as the Union Minister of Steel.
The CBI case had named Mr Singh, Pratibha, Mr Chauhan and his brother CL Chauhan and they were charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
CBI suspects that during the 2009-11 period, Mr Singh allegedly invested Rs 6.1 crore in life insurance policies in his and his family members' names through Mr Chauhan claiming this money was his agricultural income.
The agency had earlier issued summons to her to appear before the Investigating Officer (IO) of the case today.
Official sources said the IO will record her statement under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
She had twice sought exemption from appearing before the agency citing personal reasons even as she moved the Delhi High Court seeking protection from arrest by the agency till next hearing of the said case on August 24.
ED had yesterday told the High Court that it has no intention as of now to arrest Pratibha.
Sources had earlier said the questioning of the Chief Minister's wife was "essential" to thoroughly probe the case after some revelations in this regard were made by LIC agent Anand Chauhan, who was arrested by the agency last month in the said case.
The agency has also attached assets worth about Rs eight crore against the Chief Minister earlier this year. Mr Singh has denied allegations of any wrongdoing by him and his family.
ED had filed a case under criminal provisions of money laundering laws after taking cognisance of a complaint filed by the CBI in this regard in September last year.
It had also conducted searches in this case last year in Delhi, Maharashtra and West Bengal.
The agency is probing allegations against Mr Singh and his family members of having amassed wealth of Rs 6.1 crore between 2009-11, disproportionate to his known sources of income, while serving as the Union Minister of Steel.
The CBI case had named Mr Singh, Pratibha, Mr Chauhan and his brother CL Chauhan and they were charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
CBI suspects that during the 2009-11 period, Mr Singh allegedly invested Rs 6.1 crore in life insurance policies in his and his family members' names through Mr Chauhan claiming this money was his agricultural income.
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
