Dharamshala, Aug. 14 -- Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Dharamshala, Sudhir Sharma, did not appear before the vigilance bureau on Thursday, stating that he was not present in Himachal.

The state vigilance and anti-corruption bureau (SV&ACB) had summoned him to appear before the investigating officer at the SV&ACB police station in Dharamshala on August 13 in connection with an FIR registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The agency had registered an FIR against Sharma on July 29 over allegations of possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. The legislator has rejected the allegations.

Sharma said, "I was unable to appear in person on Thursday, as I am not in Himachal Pradesh at present. I have in...