Dehra bypoll: HC notice to Himachal govt, KCCB over plea seeking CBI probe

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has issued notices to the state government, the CBI and the Kangra Central Cooperative Bank (KCCB) on a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking a CBI probe into alleged misuse of government machinery and irregularities during the Dehra Assembly by-election.

The petition was filed by former MLA Hoshiar Singh Chambyal, who alleged that during the by-election held on June 10 in the Dehra Assembly constituency of Kangra district, ?50,000 each was distributed to women’s groups (mahila mandals) in violation of the Model Code of Conduct to benefit Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s wife, MLA Kamlesh Kumari.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and Justice Jiya Lal Bhardwaj issued notices to the respondents and directed them to file their replies by December 11. It has been alleged that these funds were disbursed through the KCCB to selected women’s groups. Out of about 170 mahila mandals, 67 allegedly received ?35.5 lakh with the approval of the KCCB board.