Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh (File photo)
The Income Tax department today issued a notice to Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, who is facing allegations of corruption. Tax officials have decided to re-examine the 79-year-old leader's returns for the financial year 2010-11.
Mr Singh had filed a revised return in 2012 which showed a four-fold increase in his income from the apple orchards he owns.
The revised return was challenged through a Public Interest Litigation or PIL filed in the Delhi High Court. Acting on the PIL, the Delhi High Court issued notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation or CBI to look into the matter.
Arun Dhumal, son of BJP leader PK Dhumal, has called the income tax department's notice a vindication of their allegations against Virbhadra Singh.
The beleaguered Himachal Pradesh chief minister has been calling the allegations against him "politically motivated" and said he is ready for a Lokayukta probe into his income.
With national elections now months away, the Congress has been defending the Himachal leader with even Prime Minister Manmohan Singh evading a question on him at a press conference last week.