HC tells Virbhadra to join probe, asks CBI not to arrest

New Delhi, April 6:  The Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and his wife to join the investigation in a disproportiote assets case registered against him by the CBI. Justice Pratibha Rani also directed the agency that it cannot arrest Virbhadra Singh or his wife Pratibha Singh in connection with the disproportiote assets case without the court’s permission. The court’s order came after Singh and his wife said they were willing to join investigation if they can be assured that they will not be arrested during the investigation process. “They will not be arrested without permission of the court,” the court said even as the CBI sought to remove the protection against their arrest given by the Himachal Pradesh High Court, contending that the order was hampering investigation. Additiol Solicitor General P.S. Patwalia told the court: “We should be allowed to have free hand in the investigation. We are not going to behave unreasobly.” “There can’t be any informal drawing room investigation. I want him to join the investigation which is meaningful and not to be dictated by them,” the ASG added. Senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Ram Jethmalani, appearing for Singh and his wife respectively, told the court that their clients were willing to coorporate in the investigation but they must be protected from arrest.  (IANS)