BJP's PK Dhumal says Virbhadra spreading false stories about my properties

Shimla: BJP leader P K Dhumal on Friday accused Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh of spreading "false stories" about his "alleged properties" to divert people's attention from the ED probe into the DA case against the latter.

Alleging that a conspiracy is being hatched against him, Dhumal said "Whenever the ED summons him (Singh), he spreads false stories about probe into my alleged properties despite the fact that I had written to the Prime Minister for a CBI enquiry into the properties owned by me."

"I had declared my assets in the affidavit filed at the time of filing of nominations for the Assembly polls and I reiterate that I possess not even an inch of land in excess to the declaration made in the affidavit," the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly said.

"The unease of Singh is understandable as the countdown has for the Assembly election has begun. Also, after the humiliating defeat of the Congress in Bhoranj bypoll the Chief Minister is trying to involve others in false cases," Dhumal said.

The ED had filed a case under the anti-money laundering law against the Himachal Pradesh chief minister, his family members and others after taking cognisance of a complaint filed by the CBI in this regard in September 2015.

The agency is probing allegations against Singh and his family members of amassing wealth disproportionate to their known sources of income between 2009 and 2011 when he was the Union Minister of Steel. It has also attached assets worth about Rs 14 crore in the case.

The CBI charge sheet alleged that Singh had amassed assets worth around Rs 10 crore which were disproportionate by 192 per cent of his total income during his tenure as a Union minister.