Central Bureau of Investigation, CBI conducted second round of questioning of Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat in New Delhi in connection with a sting operation case.
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The agency had called Rawat to appear on Tuesday as during his questioning on 24 May, he is understood to have not answered certain queries to the satisfaction of the probe team, people familiar with the matter said.
Meanwhile, Uttarakhand BJP president Ajay Bhatt lashed out at Rawat saying “Why is he blaming us?”
The sources, however, failed to elaborate on what specific points Rawat did not furnish details. “I am sure CBI will find nothing in this case”, he said while coming out of the CBI headquarters.
Earlier, the Uttarakhand High Court had refused to quash the ongoing CBI probe into the sting operation, following which the agency had summoned the Chief Minister. This was after rebel Congress legislators released a CD showing Rawat offering bribes to rebel Congress lawmakers to support him during a floor test in the Uttarakhand Assembly. He said the role of eight to nine MLAs needed to be examined and that the agency should also check CCTV footage of Dehra Dun airport to determine who all were in town on March 26 when the “sting” CDs were released. Rawat however had called the video fake.
Mr Pokhriyal, a sitting MP of Haridwar from Uttarakhand state, interacting with media this morning said it is very unfortunate that our chief minister, Mr Rawat offers money to dissidents to save his chair.
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The state was put under President’s Rule on March 29 but after the Supreme Court verdict, he returned to power after winning a trust vote. The CBI is an independent agency.
