The Congress on Friday welcomed the decision of Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal to file criminal complaints against three of its leaders.

Dhumal had lodged two complaints under section 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code in the court of the chief judicial magistrate of Shimla, A S Jaswal, alleging that Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, Congress general-secretary Motilal Vora and Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma had made baseless allegations against him.

Sharma had released a list of properties and business ventures owned by Dhumal and his family members. The assets in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab were worth more than Rs40 crore, he added.

"We have got documentary evidence of the properties and business ventures owned by the Dhumal family. We are happy that he has taken legal recourse. Let us have a judicial scrutiny of the wealth owned by the chief minister and members of his family," Sharma told rediff.com from Shimla.

Dhumal told rediff.com from Shimla that he had no option but to approach the judiciary.

"The people of Himachal are not at all bothered by the allegations made against me. I wanted to put an end to the malicious campaign and hence I decided to go to the court," Dhumal said.

The Bharatiya Janata Party will secure a thumping win in the assembly election in Himachal Pradesh, he said.

"We are sure to get 50 seats. We could get even more," he added.