Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh can now be interrogated by the Central Bureau of Investigation in a disproportionate assets case, after the Delhi High Court allowed the agency to do so on Wednesday, reported ANI. The CBI will have to take prior permission from the court before taking any action, besides arresting Singh, the court order added. Singh was also directed to cooperate with the agency in their investigation into the case.

This comes nearly five months after the Supreme Court transferred a plea filed by Singh and his wife against the case to the Delhi High Court. The case was being heard by the Himachal Pradesh High Court, which had earlier barred the CBI from arresting Singh. The Congress leader's lawyer, Kapil Sibal, had opposed the court's decision to transfer the case, saying it would imply that the Himachal Pradesh High Court was not fit to hear it. However, the apex court's bench rejected the petition.

On September 26, the CBI had raided Singh's house after filing an FIR against him. Singh had approached the high court, seeking protection from arrest, which was approved. The CBI then moved the high court against this decision and also alleged that the judge presiding over Singh's case had been his lawyer in a previous case, as well. Subsequently, the Supreme Court issued a notice to Singh and his wife asking for their response and then decided to transfer the case.