Thaindian News

Shimla, Aug 8 (IANS) The Himachal Pradesh Police have identified the industrialists referred to in a CD on the basis of which corruption cases have been registered against Steel Minister Virbhadra Singh and his wife Pratibha Singh, an official said Saturday.
“We have identified the industrialists. They will be questioned soon,” Director General of Police (Vigilance) D.S. Manhas told IANS.

Sources in police said the two industrialists have been initially identified on the basis of recorded conversation in the CD between Singh and Indian Administrative Officer (IAS) officer Mahinder Lal, who is now dead.

In the CD, released by Congress rebel Vijai Singh Mankotia in 2007, Singh was heard telling Lal on phone about monetary transactions with some industrialists. Singh is a five-time former chief minister of Himachal Pradesh.

The CD also contains recordings of Singh’s wife, a former MP from the state’s Mandi constituency.

Manhas ruled out this possibility of the CD’s re-examination by the Chandigarh-based Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL).

“There is no need for re-examination of the CD by the CFSL. Our case is based on the report of the CFSL,” he said.

As per the May 2008 CFSL report, the voices of Singh and his wife matched those on the CD.

On the questioning of Singh and his wife, Manhas said: “We will question Singh and his wife. We can even send them a questionnaire.”

Singh has refuted the allegations against him and his wife.

“It is nothing more than political vendetta by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party government in the state,” Singh told IANS.

According to the state vigilance bureau, the couple has been booked on the complaint of former IAS officer S.M. Katwal on the basis of the CD released by Mankotia.