HP CM’s wife to be further quizzed in PMLA case: ED to HC

New Delhi, Aug 24 (PTI) Himachal Pradesh Chief MinisterVirbhadra Singh’s wife Pratibha Singh needed to be furtherquestioned in connection with a money laundering case againsthim, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) told Delhi High Courttoday. Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Sanjay Jain toldJustice Vipin Sanghi that Pratibha Singh did not have answersto several questions put to her during questioning on August 9and some documents were also sought from her. The ASG’s submission came after a lawyer appearing onbehalf of Pratibha sought a passover as senior advocate KapilSibal, who is representing her, was in the Supreme Court. The ASG said that instead of a passover, the matter canbe heard on a later date as there was no urgency. The courtthen listed the matter for hearing on September 23. The court was hearing Pratibha’s plea seeking a directionto ED not to take any coercive step against her in the wake ofthe arrest of an LIC agent in the case. On August 8, ED had told the court it had no intention asof now to arrest her and would inform the court beforehand incase of doing so. On July 29, the court had asked ED not to take anycoercive step against her on August 9 when she appeared beforeit to record her statement. It had also said in case ED wantedto further question her, it will have to give reasons. Besides his wife, Singh has also moved the court, seekingprotection from arrest in the case. In his plea, Singh has said he apprehended that ED mightarrest him on the basis of an alleged disclosure statement ofinsurance agent Anand Chauhan, who was recently arrested fromChandigarh in connection with the case. Chauhan was arrested by ED under provisions of thePrevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) as he was allegedlynot cooperating with the investigating officer of the case. The probe agency had alleged that Singh, while serving asUnion Steel Minister, had invested huge amounts in purchasingLIC policies in his and his family members’ names throughChauhan. ED had last year lodged the case against Singh and othersunder PMLA after taking cognisance of a criminal complaintfiled by CBI in this regard. PTI HMP ABAARC