The chances of Virbhadra Singh appearing before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on April 13 seem to be bleak as in a last-minute change the Chief Minister today cancelled his programme to Delhi and rushed with his family to seek the blessings of Goddess Bhimakali at Sarahan. As per the scheduled programme of the Chief Minister, he was to leave to Delhi today morning and return after appearing before the ED who had summoned him on April 13 in New Delhi in connection with the money laundering case. Instead, Virbhadra chose to seek the blessings of Goddess Bhimakali in Sarahan and returned in the evening.
The fact that he is scheduled to visit Shoghi, Chanog and other parts of his Assembly segment of Shimla (Rural) for inaugurations, laying of foundation stones and interaction with his constituents tomorrow is an indication that he would give a miss to the date with the ED in Delhi. The change of programme came as a major surprise for most as it was only yesterday that Virbhadra had stated that he would cooperate and go before the ED on April 13.Political circles were rife with speculation as to why the Chief Minister had a sudden change of mind.
The Chief Minister is facing a case filed by the CBI with regard to disproportionate assets and the challan has already been filed. The ED has registered a money laundering case against him and the agency had last week only attached a farm house owned by his son in Mahrauli area of Delhi.
The Chief Minister had two days back said that he would fight the vendetta being unleashed against him by the Modi-led BJP regime, both politically and legally. He along with his son Vikramaditya Singh, state Youth Congress president have been accusing Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, former Chief Minister PK Dhumal and Hamirpur MP Anurag Thakur of targeting him.
He has accused them of using all investigating agencies – the CBI, the ED and Income Tax — and probing the same case in which he filed revised income tax returns for three years.
News Source Tribune India
