New Delhi: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Thursday filed a defamation suit against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders Arun Jaitley and Prem Kumar Dhumal, who had accused him of corruption.
"I am not going to be cowed down by their threats and malicious propaganda. I firmly believe in the rule of law and truth and justice will prevail," Virbhadra Singh said after filing the case.
Meanwhile, the Income Tax (I-T) department has started investigation into the alleged irregularities in Singh's agricultural income, said reports on Saturday.
Singh said a Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) agent Anand Chouhan, who manages his orchards, sold the apples on his behalf and got the money.
Earlier, levelling corruption charges against Singh over payments from a power company's promoter, Jaitley on India TV's Aak Ki Adalat said he has written a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh demanding action.
Jaitley alleged that Venture Energy and Technology Pvt Ltd had defaulted on a contract concerning hydropower project work in Himachal Pradesh, but was given an extension in the time to complete the job.
He said that Singh had given the company 10 months more, and alleged that the firm's promoter had made cheque payments of Rs.3.5 crore "to Virbhadra Singh and his wife Pratibha Singh".
Virbhadra Singh and his family became shareholders in another firm belonging to the promoter of the power company.
