Provide documents to Virbhadra, HC tells ED

Moreover, CBI has already agreed to supply similar documents in another Disproportionate Assets (DA) case to Mr Singh by Saturday. The court gave this order to ED while hearing the case. 

Earlier appearing for ED,  Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had been opposed CM’s plea before Justice Ashutosh Kumar on last hearing however court had asked agencies that petitioner could not be divested of their legal right to having related documents. Hearing the argument on January 5, Justice Kumar had questioned both agencies that if documents sought are not given to Mr. Singh, the same documents could not be used against him during trial.  He had sought to know the reasons for ED’s refusal to supply the documents and said that the agency would have to convince the court about its stand. Adverse to earlier stand Mr. Mehta today agreed that ED was ready to provide the copies of document to petitioner in an enforcement case investigation report (ECIR) as the ED had registered  a probe into money laundering and corruption charges against Mr. Singh and his family members. 

The court disposed of the application of Mr. Singh after the statement of its counsel. The high court observed in the court that since agency decided to supply the documents, nothing else remains to be decided. “The grievances of the petitioner (Singh) stands satisfied as of now, so the petition is accordingly disposed of,” the court observed. 

The counsel for Mr. Singh, former union minister and senior advocate Mr. Kapil Sibal had stated before the court that documents would be need for replying queries likely to be asked by the agencies during the investigation from him . Counsel for CBI, Additional Solicitor General P.S Patwalia told the court that it would provide a photocopy of the documents seized from Chief Minister’s office and residence by Saturday. 

However, court maintained that Chief Minister would personally approach CBI Saturday and collect all the documents moreover it allowed any authorised representatives of Singh to collect documents sought by him from CBI.