PPE kits: Sirmaur resident arrested in bribery case

SHIMLA: The state Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau arrested Prithvi Singh, a resident of Rajhana in Sangrah tehsil of Sirmaur district from Shimla on Saturday night in connection with the viral audio clip case.
Earlier, director, health services Dr Ajay Kumar Gupta was arrested in the case, but was released on bail. In the the 43-second audio clip, two persons could be heard discussing a transaction of around Rs 5 lakh for some medical purchases.
After the audio clip surfaced, the state government ordered registration of a case. The state vigilance and anti-corruption bureau registered a case and arrested Gupta on the night of May 20 under sections 7 and 8 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The court had granted conditional bail to Ajay Kumar Gupta, who was suspended by the state government.
Prithvi Singh is alleged to be the other person in the audio clip. He was questioned by the special investigation unit and has already admitted to have recorded the telephonic conversation in his mobile phone. The special investigation unit seized his mobile phone and sent it to the state forensic science laboratory in Junga for examination. On Saturday, the special investigating unit called him to Shimla for questioning and arrested him.
The audio clip created ripples in the state politics with the opposition Congress alleging the involvement of some BJP leaders. So far, investigation has not found any such involvement. In the wake of opposition allegations, state BJP president Dr Rajeev Bindal resigned from his post on May 27 claiming that he is resigning on moral grounds. He said the state BJP has nothing to do with the viral audio case.
In his letter to Nadda, Bindal said that being state president, he wants complete investigation of this case without any pressure for which he is resigning from the post of state BJP president.