In a relief for former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, a court here today rejected the prosecution's plea for cancellation of bail for him and his Pratibha Singh in a graft case.

Special Judge B L Soni, who had reserved the orders on September after arguments, announced his order this evening.

The prosecution had alleged that Singh was influencing the witnesses and it had enough evidence against the couple.

The court had framed charges against Singh and his wife, a former Lok Sabha member, on June 25 last, after which Singh resigned as Union Minister of Small, Micro and Medium enterprises the next day.

He withdrew the petition filed by him in the High Court for quashing the FIR or handing over the investigations to CBI.

He appeared in the case on September 7 last and regular hearing of the case started.

The court has already fixed September 21 as next date of hearing.

A graft case was registered against Singh and his wife on the basis of an audio-CD allegedly containing conversations of the couple with some officials and industrialists in a 23- year-old matter.

Five times chief minister V.B.Singh has alleged the cases against him and his wife were fabricated.