Harish Rawat sting row: Uttarakhand govt moves High Court against CBI probe

The Uttarakhand government on 20 May appealed to the High Court against the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) inquiry into the Harish Rawat sting video.

According to CBI sources, the agency is all set to question CM Harish Rawat, two days after it rejected the Uttarakhand government's notification to withdraw the case related to the sting operation involving him.

On 15 May, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers staged a protest against the Uttarakhand Government in Dehradun over the state cabinet's decision to send a proposal to the CBI for investigation.

The BJP asked the CBI to drop the investigation into sting videos which allegedly show Rawat striking a deal with the rebel MLAs.

The cabinet meeting, chaired by state minister Indira Hridayesh on 14 May, had informed the CBI that it would set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct its own probe.

The CBI, on its part, said they have received the communication from the Uttarakhand Government and are getting the matter legally examined.

The video shows Rawat indulging in horse trading a day before President's rule was imposed in Uttarakhand on 27 March. The BJP alleged that the sting was proof of unfair means used by the Rawat regime to stay in power.

Rawat has maintained his innocence in the matter and termed the entire episode as a conspiracy to tarnish his image.

The Centre revoked President's rule from Uttarakhand on 11 May after Harish Rawat proved his majority on the floor of the House. The Congress won by a margin of 33-28 in the floor test that took place on 10 May.

The nine Congress rebels were barred from voting in the 71-member assembly.