Virbhadra Singh dismisses graft allegations

NEW DELHI, Oct 13:Dismissing allegations that he had received money from a private steel company, former Union Minister Virbhadra Singh today threatened legal action against all the people behind the �motivated campaign�.He dubbed the graft allegations as a �cheap political stunt� and said he was ready to face �any inquiry� by �any agency� in this regard.�This is totally false, malicious and motivated and I strongly deny this. Furthermore I am willing to face any inquiry in this regard by any agency,� Singh said.He claimed that the issue was being raked up in the media by his detractors to influence the Himacahl Pradesh Assembly elections.�It is a cheap political stunt and nothing more,� said Singh, a five-time chief minister of Himachal Pradesh.Singh�s statement comes in the wake of reports in a section of the media claiming that he and several others received payoffs from ISPAT Industries.�..I challenge anyone to prove that any undue favour was accorded to ISPAT Industries, this company was not favoured by the Steel Ministry in any way, during my tenure,� said Singh, who was the Union Minister for Steel between May 2009 and January 2011.Contesting media reports, which claimed that payments were made to one �VBS�, Singh said, �First and foremost I do not write my initials as VBS but as VS.��Once the polls are over I will take legal action against all the people who are behind this false, motivated and negative campaign against me,� he said. (PTI)