Virbhadra, his wife granted bail in DA case

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and his wife Pratibha on Monday were granted bail by a special court here in the Rs 10 crore disproportionate assets case against them.
 
Special Judge Virender Kumar Goyal granted them bail on a personal bond of Rs one lakh each and one surety of the like amount.
 
The accused cannot leave the country without court's prior according to the bail conditions.
 
The court orders came despite the CBI opposing the bail plea by the Chief Minister saying he is in a position to influence witnesses and the ongoing probe.
 
The CBI lawyer said Singh was the "King of the state" and apprehended that no witness will appear before the court fearing him.
 
On the other hand, Singh's lawyers submitted the investigation was complete as the CBI has already filed the charge sheet.
 
Singh and his wife Pratibha Singh on May 22 appeared as accused in connection with a nearly Rs 10 crore disproportionate assets case and sought bail.
 
The CBI had recently charge sheeted Singh and others for amassing assets worth around Rs 10.30 crore disproportionate to their known sources of income during 2009-11 when he was Union Power Minister.
 
In the charge sheet running into 500 pages, Singh and others are charged with forgery and corruption among other illegalities. The CBI has mentioned 225 witnesses and 442 documents to support its case in the charge sheet.
 
Outside the court, Singh described the case as "political vendetta". He told reporters, "it is a long battle and I will fight and win the case."
 
The CBI had in September 2015 named Singh, his wife, LIC agent Anand Chauhan and his brother C L Chauhan as the accused in its FIR.
 
The LIC agent has been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate, which registered a case on the basis of the CBI FIR, on charges of money laundering in the case. Chauhan, who is presently in judicial custody, was accused of investing Singh's money in life insurance policies and help him launder money. The money was invested in insurance policies claiming this money to be Singh's agricultural income.