Shimla, Jun 7
The Session Court (Forest) today awarded 5 days police remand to the second accused Prithvi Singh who was arrested by state vigilance late last night.
The accused was produced before Special Judge Shimla Arvind Malhotra today and the vigilance demanded his custody to interrogate him in the alleged bribe case.
Superintendent of police Shalani Agnihotri said that the accused Prithvi Singh was arrested late last night and he was produced this afternoon before the special judge forest Arvind Malhotra who sent him for a five days police custody.
The accused is booked under section 8 of prevention of Corruption Act by the vigilance last night.
Himachal Pradesh State Vigilance Department and Anti-corruption Bureau has made this second arrest in the audio clip row pertaining to alleged offering of five lakh bribe in purchase of PPE kit.
Additional Director General of Police Anurag Garg said that vigilance sleauth arrested accused Prithvi Singh in the alleged case. The counsel of SV & ACB demanded police custody of the accused for interrogation in the matter.
The vigilance also recorded voice samples of Singh at FSL Junga he was booked after confirmation of his voice.
The alleged audio clip in which Singh and former Director Health Services Ajay Gupta were allegedly discusing about Rs five lakh demand of bribe is under investigation by a Special Investigation unit of the State vigilance.
Accused former DHS had been arrested on May 20 in the case but was later released on bail by the Session Court on May 30 after five days of police remand.
BJP president Rajiv Bindal had also tendered resignation due to the same case on high moral grounds as the name of second accused Singh(now in custody) got associated with him.
The matter is under investigation and arrest of Prithvi Singh would reveal more insight about the alleged demand of bribe.
The Health department had purchased PPE kits from a firm which belonged to Dehrabasi. Reportedly Prithvi was marketing manager of the firm which supplied PPE kits for COVID-19 Pandemic in the state.
The firm however denied any connection with the accused Prithvi Singh stating that he was former Marketing manager and is not linked to the supply of PPE kits.
