Virbhadra meets Sonia; will he quit?

Union Minister Virbhadra Singh, who was slapped with charges of conspiracy and corruption in a 23-year-old case, on Monday met Congress President Sonia Gandhi, triggering speculation of his resignation.

Reacting to the framing of charges, Singh had earlier in day said 'the evidence is concocted. The CD has not been authenticated. They have not compared my voice'.

Asked whether he would resign, he said, "I don't care for my office at all. I don't want to embarrass my party and the prime minister. As and when the occasion arises, certainly I will take appropriate action."

All India Congress Committee general secretary in-charge for Himachal Pradesh

Chaudhary Birender Singh, however, said "there has been no direction so far to Vibhadra Singh to resign. The judgement of the special court is being studied."

The AICC leader said Virbhadra Singh had earlier also approached the high court for quashing of the FIR and he can again move the HC to pray for early hearing and verdict in the case.

Charges were framed against 78-year-old Singh, union minister for Small, Micro and Medium Industries, and his wife under Section 120 B (conspiracy) of Indian Penal Code and Sections 7,11 and 13 of Prevention of Corruption Act dealing with bribery and criminal misconduct.

The case against Singh goes back to 1989 when he was chief minister of Himachal Pradesh. The charges are based on an audio CD that purportedly contains a conversation with Indian Administrative Service officer Mohinder Lal and some industrialists regarding alleged monetary transactions for them to invest in the state.