NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday filed a Prosecution Complaint (chargesheet) against former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, wife Pratibha Singh and four others under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The four others chargesheeted include Anand Chauhan, Chunni Lal Chauhan, Prem Raj and Lawan Kumar Roach.
The chargesheet relates to the an agency order issued on March 23, 2016 for attaching fixed deposit receipts and bank accounts of Virbhadra, his wife Pratibha, son Vikramaditya and daughter Aparajita worth Rs 7.93 crore and immovable property at W-122, Greater Kailash Part-1, New Delhi valued at Rs 4,47,20,000.
The ED had registered the case on October 27, 2015 after taking cognisance of CBI FIR against the accused persons alleging that huge amount of unaccounted money has been invested in LIC policies in the name of Virbhadra Singh and his family members.
“Virbhadra Singh, the former Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh with other accused persons, in order to legitimize tainted money and projecting the same as untainted created a ante-dated Memorandum of Understanding dated 15.06.2008, for management of Shrikhand orchard, Damrali (HP),” agency said in a statement. .
Further fake sale proceeds (bills) showing sale of apples of Shrikhand orchard to Universal Apple Associates of co-accused Chunni Lal Chauhan were made to justify the source of cash deposits made in the bank account of Anand Chauhan and subsequent investment in LIC policies as agricultural income from sale of apples of Shrikhand orchard. The filing of revised IT return for AY 2009-10 to 2011-12 for Virbhadra Singh (HUF) was also in line to the modus operandi adopted to project proceeds of crime as generated from agricultural income, the agency further said.
“Virbhadra Singh through other co-accused persons Smt. Pratibha Singh and Anand Chauhan indulged in money laundering by investing tainted money in LIC polices in the name of members of his family to show legitimate income arising out of insurance policies. The redemption amount of some of the policies was used for purchasing immovable assets i.e house at W-122, Greater Kailash, Part 1, and New Delhi,” added the agency.