Pratibha Singh is an Indian politician and member of the Indian National Congress (INC). Pratibha is the second wife of Indian politician Virbhadra Singh who was the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh six times. In December 2022, Pratibha courted controversy when her daughter-in-law Sudarshana Chundawat filed a case against her and her son Vikramaditya Singh, accusing them of physical, mental and financial harassment.
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Pratibha Virbhadra Singh was born on Saturday, 16 June 1956 (age 67 years; as of 2023) in Junga, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India. His zodiac sign is Gemini. Pratibha completed her schooling from Loreto Convent Tara Hall, Shimla. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree from Government Women’s College, Chandigarh.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx): 5′ 2″
Hair Color: Salt and Pepper
Eye colour: dark brown
Family
Pratibha Singh belongs to a royal Rajput family in Keonthal, Himachal Pradesh.
parents and siblings
Pratibha’s father’s name is Hitendra Sen (deceased) and mother’s name is Shanta Devi (deceased).
husband and children
On 28 November 1985, Pratibha was married to Virbhadra Singh. Together, they have a son, Vikramaditya Singh, an Indian politician, and a daughter, Aparajita Singh. Aparajita is married to Angad Singh, grandson of former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh. Vikramaditya, a member of the Indian National Congress, was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly from Shimla Rural constituency in the 2022 assembly elections.
Pratibha Singh with her husband Virbhadra Singh (seated left) and son Vikramaditya Singh
Aparajita Singh with Angad Singh
other relatives
Pratibha’s father-in-law Raja Padam Singh was the 121st Maharaja of Bushahr and her mother-in-law’s name is Rani Shanti Devi. She has four step daughters from her husband’s first wife, Ratna Kumari, Jyotsna Kumari, Anuradha Kumari (deceased), Abhilasha Kumari (judge) and Meenakshi Kumari.
Religion
Pratibha Singh follows Hindu religion.
Pratibha Singh during a visit to a temple
Caste
Pratibha Singh is a Rajput.
Address
Permanent address of Pratibha Singh is Holy Lodge, Jakhu, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh.
signature/autograph
Signature of Pratibha Singh
livelihood
2004 general election
Pratibha contested from Mandi Lok Sabha constituency and won the seat by defeating BJP candidate Maheshwar Singh by a margin of 66,566 votes. During his tenure, he was appointed as a member of the Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment, Consultative Committee and Committee on Ministry of Tourism and Public Undertakings.
By-election in Mandi Lok Sabha constituency, 2013
Pratibha won the Mandi Lok Sabha seat by defeating BJP candidate Jai Ram Thakur by a margin of 2,16,765 votes.
2014 general election
In 2014, Pratibha lost to BJP candidate Ram Swaroop Sharma from the same constituency by a margin of 39,856 votes.
2021 By-election in Mandi Lok Sabha constituency
Pratibha contested from Mandi Lok Sabha constituency and defeated BJP candidate Brigadier Khushal Thakur by a margin of 8766 votes. Later, she was appointed a member of the Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports.
controversies
Case registered under corruption charges
On 3 August 2009, a case was registered against Virbhadra Singh and his wife Pratibha Singh for allegedly being involved in illegal monetary transactions. In 2007, an audio tape, recorded during Virbhadra’s tenure as Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh in 1989, was released by his rival, Vijay Singh Mankotiya, an Indian politician and member of the Indian National Congress. In which was recorded the conversation between Virbhadra, his wife Pratibha and former IAS officer Mohinder Lal (deceased) regarding some illegal monetary transactions for investment in the cement industry in Himachal Pradesh. They were charged under IPC section 120B (conspiracy) and sections 7, 11 and 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA) relating to bribery and criminal misconduct. On 24 December 2012, Virbhadra and Pratibha got a clean chit from the trial court in Shimla after the key witness recanted his statements against them.
FIR lodged against him for allegedly amassing disproportionate assets
On 23 September 2015, an FIR was registered against then Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh under the Prevention of Corruption Act accusing him of amassing disproportionate assets worth more than Rs 10 crore in the name of himself and his family members, while He had completed his tenure. Union Minister during the period 2009–2012 in the UPA government. Charges were filed against his wife Pratibha Singh, his son Vikramaditya Singh, his daughter Aparajita Singh and seven other associates for allegedly abetting the crime. The charge sheet filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) accused him of fraud and forgery as he invested unaccounted money in LIC policies in the name of family members, tried to evade income tax and claimed that the money was agricultural income. Has been earned as. From the income received from the sale of apples. He was booked under sections 109 (abetment) and 465 (punishment for forgery) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA).
Criticized for making controversial comments on Gudiya rape case
In June 2022, Pratibha Singh sparked controversy when she addressed the Gudiya rape case as a “chhoti si vardaat” (minor accident). The Kotkhai rape and murder case, popularly known as the Gudiya rape case, came to light in Kotkhai, Shimla, where a 16-year-old girl from Shimla was brutally raped and murdered by the accused Charani Neelu. During her visit to Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti for a public meeting, Pratibha commented and said,
A small incident happened in our government. A girl was abused in a village… she was a school kid… so the BJP people made a lot of noise about it… they burnt the police office… they said that it should be investigated. In our time, Raja Saheb was the Chief Minister, he was immediately given orders and the very next day CBI came to start investigating him…they cried so much about this…they kept capitalizing on this until there was a change in the government.. “However, there was nothing like that…people knew this.”
As soon as Pratibha’s video went viral on social media, she was severely criticized for defaming and insulting women. On 1 July 2022, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Mahila Morcha protested against him in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh and asked him to tender a public apology to the general public and Gudiya’s family.
domestic violence allegation
On October 17, 2022, Vikramaditya’s wife Sudarshana Chundawat filed a case in Udaipur court against him, her mother-in-law Pratibha Singh, sister-in-law Aparajita Singh, brother-in-law Angad Singh and a woman. Amreen, from Chandigarh, was booked under Section 12 of the Domestic Violence Act and accused of domestic abuse and financial exploitation. In her complaint, Sudarshana had accused Vikramaditya of having an affair with 38-year-old Amreen, a resident of Chandigarh. She alleged that Vikramaditya installed CCTV cameras in her room to keep an eye on her and threatened and pressurized her for divorce. When she asked Vikramaditya about her relationship, Vikramaditya revealed that he wanted to marry Amreen, but her father Virbhadra Singh, who was against her relationship with Amreen, threatened to disown her and ultimately He had to marry Sudarshana. Sudarshana alleged that in April 2021, Pratibha and Vikramaditya went to her hometown and demanded dowry of Rs 10 crore from her parents. In December 2022, it was reported that a non-bailable warrant was issued by a Udaipur court against Vikramaditya and his mother Pratibha Singh, but Vikramaditya denied the rumors and said,
No order was passed by the court regarding issuing non-bailable warrant. Rather we have accepted the notice. We are not escaping the law. There has been no mistake on our part, so there is no question of issuing a warrant against us.”
property/property
movable property
- Deposits in banks, financial institutions and non-banking financial companies: Rs 2,60,38,068
- Bonds, debentures and shares in companies: Rs 2,11,000
- LIC or other insurance policy: Rs 3,29,87,000
Immovable property
- Non-agricultural land: Rs 85,00,000
Note: The given estimates of movable and immovable assets are as of 2014. It does not include property owned by her spouse and dependents (minors).
net worth
As of 2014, Pratibha’s net worth is estimated to be Rs 7,24,61,068.
Note: This does not include the net worth of her husband and dependents (minors).
Facts/General Knowledge
- Pratibha is fondly called Maharani by her supporters and the locals of Shimla because her husband Virbhadra Singh belonged to the royal Rajput family of the erstwhile princely state of Bushahr. At the age of 13, he became the 122nd Maharaja of Bushahr after the death of his father Raja Padam Singh in 1947.
- Pratibha’s hobbies include gardening, reading books and social work.
- Pratibha served as the Vice President of Himachal Pradesh Red Cross Society from 1985 to 1990, 1994 to 1998 and 2003.
- Since 2003, Pratibha served as a member of the State Women Empowerment Board and the State Planning Board.
- Pratibha served as a member of the Central Advisory Board of Education since 2004.
- On 8 December 2022, soon after the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election results were declared, the Congress party won seats in 40 out of 68 states. Pratibha Singh was considered one of the possible chief ministerial candidates along with Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu and Mukesh Agnihotri. On 10 December 2022, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel officially announced Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu as the 15th Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh. Addressing the journalists, Pratibha accepted the decision of not being elected CM and said,
We accept the decision taken by the Congress high command.
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn