Cash-for-vote scam: Court reserves order on plea against Amar Singh PTI Dec 7, 2011, 03.

18PM IST Tags: y samajwadi party| y Faggan Singh Kulaste NEW DELHI: A Delhi court today reserved for December 12 its order on a plea for lodging a case against Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh for his alleged role in kidnapping of a witness in 2008 cash-forvote case hours before his deposition on the issue before a parliamentary panel. Metropolitan Magistrate Sudesh Kumar reserved his order on the plea made by the alleged victim Hashmat Ali, accusing Singh of getting him kidnapped through his secretary Tarun Goel and aide Ramesh from Khan Market in south Delhi. Ali in his complaint to the court had contended that Singh had got him kidnapped on September 25, 2008, the day he was to appear before a parliamentary panel inquiring into the scam involving alleged payment of bribes to some MPs for their vote during a trust motion in Lok Sabha on July 22, 2008. Ali's counsel L K Verma told the court that the Crime Branch of Delhi Police, in its status report to the court on the complaint for lodging the kidnapping case against Singh, has refused to believe his client, despite "solely relying" on his testimony in the cash-for-vote case. "On the one hand, they (police) are solely relying on Hasmat Ali's testimony in the 2008 cash-for-vote scam case, but here they are disbelieving him and his complaint," Verma said. The counsel submitted Ali was kidnapped from Khan Market and was taken to Amar Singh's residence where former Samajwadi Party leader slapped him and snatched his mobile phone. He was handed over to the police in presence of media at his residence on the same day, he said. Ali's counsel submitted that the police had not properly probed his client's complaint and had simply sought its dimissal in the status report.

The court, after hearing the arguments, reserved its order on Ali's plea for December 12. The police, in its status report, had said that the plea was devoid of "merits" and allegations were "not found substantiated" and were an "after thought". Ali had sought registration of an FIR against Amar Singh and his two aides under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Arms Act, accusing them of kidnapping him at gun point and illegally confining him. The police, however, had said after a detailed inquiry, it was revealed that no such incident as alleged by Ali took place near Khan Market area here on September 25, 2008, the day when he was to depose before the parliamentary panel. The police had said no cognisable offence was made out against Singh and his two aides. It had said Goel had filed a complaint against Ali on September 25, 2008 accusing him of repeatedly calling them - Singh and his aides, demanding money from them to depose "honestly" before the parliamentary committee. It had said Goel had alleged that Ali had come to Singh's 27, Lodhi Estate residence, and had claimed that he (Ali) was ready to disclose the names of conspirators involved in the sting operation, conducted by a private news channel in connection with the trust vote. Singh has been chargesheeted by the Delhi Police in the 2008 cash-for-vote case along with BJP leader L K Advani's former aide Sudheendra Kulkarni, former BJP MPs Faggan Singh Kulaste, Mahabir Singh Bhagora and co-accused Sohail Hindustani and Sanjeev Saxena. All six have been granted bail by the Delhi high court. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/20 11-12-07/india/30485109_1_cash-for-votescam-status-report-hashmat-ali

Cash for votes scam: Highlights of court order on bail for 6

IANS Nov 16, 2011, 10.04pm IST Tags:
y y

Saxena and political activist Suhail Hindustani, to furnish a personal and surety bond of Rs.2 lakh each as pre-condition for bail. The judge allowed the plea of accused BJP MPs that the accused wanted to expose the Congress and the Samajwadi party as they would not have planned the sting with the news channel, if they intended to accept the illegal gratification. Even according to the prosecution, the basic requirement of mens rea (criminal motive) to accept bribe so as to (bring it) within the ambit of Prevention of Corruption Act was lacking on the part of all the petitioners, the court said. With regard to petitioner Sudheendra Kulkarni, it may be noted that he was not a public servant and he was neither the giver or the taker of money and was also not present at the time of the alleged negotiations. His role is of introducing the petitioner MPs and CNN-IBN team and, thus, his role was similar to that of the team of CNN-IBN against which there was no charge of any kind. Discussing the role of Hindustani, the court said his role was that of a "whistle blower" who engineered the sting operation. Saxena was not a beneficiary of the scam and, moreover, is in jail since July 17. http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes. com/2011-11-16/news/30405640_1_bjpmps-cnn-ibn-bribe-givers

Sanjeev Saxena| Prevention of Corruption Act

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court Wednesday granted bail to six accused in the 2008 cash-for-votes scam that had rocked parliament ahead of a trust vote. Following are the highlights of Justice M.L. Mehta's order and the proceedings of the day: If there was any conspiracy between the petitioners (accused), amongst themselves, or with bribe givers, they would not have associated themselves with the CNN-IBN news channel and exposed themselves to the act of taking money before the camera. I have gone through the entire voluminous charge sheet but could not find any prima facie evidence on record of demand and acceptance of illegal gratification by the three (Bharatiya Janata Party) MPs. If the intention of the petitioner MPs was to receive bribe, they would have done so and kept the amount so received silently instead of producing the same in parliament immediately thereafter. Admittedly, no action was taken by the parliament except that of appointing a parliamentary inquiry committee. It is noted that some of the members of the inquiry committee have also given dissenting views. Justice Mehta also granted anticipatory bail to sitting Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Ashok Argal and asked the six accused, including Amar Singh's former aide Sanjeev

Cash-for-vote scam: Kulkarni, 5 others get bail

Posted On Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 02:05:27 AM New Delhi BJP leader L K Advanis former aide Sudheendra Kulkarni and five other were granted bail by the Delhi High Court (HC) in the 2008 cash-for-vote case. The HC gave reprieve to all the six accused after the Delhi police told the court that it had no objection as the investigation in the case was over and the accused were not required for custodial interrogation. In his petition, Kulkarni claimed that he and other BJP MPs got involved in the sting operation conducted by a private news channel to expose the murky deals of the UPA government. Kulkarni has been chargesheeted under section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. While granting bail, Justice M L Mehta asked all the accused to furnish a personal and surety bond of Rs 2 lakh each. The court granted bail to Kulkarni, former BJP MPs Faggan Singh Kulaste and Mahabir Singh Bhagora, Amar Singhs former aide Sanjeev Saxena and alleged political activist Suhail Hindustani. Cash, lies and petty politics

the UPA government in the July 2008 trust motion. The court also granted anticipatory bail to co-accused Ashok Argal, a BJP legislator and directed him to appear before the concerned court during the hearing of the case. The Delhi Police have received Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumars nod to proceed against Argal. Former Samjwadi Party leader Amar Singh, who is also an accused in the case, was granted bail recently by the HC on health grounds. Singh told the court that he has undergone a kidney transplant and needs utmost care to avoid any infection.

http://www.mumbaimirror.com/ind ex.aspx?page=article&sectid=3&c ontentid=20111117201111170205 39750c5c60ca3

Saxena is accused of delivering Rs 1 crore to Kulaste and Bhagora to buy their votes for

SC seeks status report on probe into 'cash-for-vote' scam

Thursday, July 7, 2011, 11:30 [IST] New Delhi, Jul 7: The Supreme Court today (Jul 7) directed the Delhi Police to place before it the status report on the probe conducted by it in the "cash-for-vote" scam during the trust vote faced by the UPA government in July 2008. Not satisfied with the Centre's contention that an FIR has been lodged in the case and probe will be completed within two months, a bench headed by Justice Aftab Alam ordered the police to file the status report by July 15. "Two months is a long time. Tell us about the present status of the probe," the bench said, while posting the matter for further hearing on July 15. Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium said that the status report will be filed within the stipulated period in a sealed envelope before the court. The court passed the order on a petition filed by former Chief Election Commissioner J M Lyngdoh seeking its directions to the government to take action against politicians involved in the scam. The petition alleges that though the entire nation was shocked by the spectacle of three BJP MPs displaying wads of currency notes in Parliament as bribe money to vote in favour of the UPA during the 2008 trust vote, no action has so far been taken against those guilty.

According to the petition, though the incident had occurred on July 22, 2008, neither the Delhi Police Crime Branch which registered an FIR nor the chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee headed by Kishore Chandra Deo, which inquired into the allegation, had so far taken any tangible step to initiate action against those responsible. Lyngdoh, in his petition, has urged the apex court to direct the government to set up an independent SIT to probe the allegations and try to complete the investigations within six months. He has pleaded that the SIT chief should be given absolute powers and independence to choose the best officers for the probe. On July 22, 2008, three BJP members had placed one crore rupee cash in the Lok Sabha alleging they were given to them by floor managers of the UPA government to secure their support during the noconfidence motion after Left parties withdrew their support over the Indo-US nuclear deal. The BJP members had claimed that the floor managers had sought to purchase them through a Samajwadi Party leader. The allegation was levelled by the BJP MPs Ashok Argal, Faggan Singh Kulaste and Mahavir Bhagora.

news.oneindia.in/2011/07/07/scse eks-status-report-on-probe-intocash-forvotescam-aid0126.html

Cash-for-vote: Ex BJP worker, Hindustani to be interrogated

Wednesday, July 20, 2011, 10:19 [IST] New Delhi, Jul 20: The Delhi Crime branch on Wednesday, Jul 20 would interrogate a former BJP worker Suhail Hindustani regarding the cash-for-votes scam case. Suhail is an alleged middleman in the scam. Hindustani is alleged to be the conduit between Amar Singh and BJP MPs in July 2008 during trust vote in Parliament over the Indo-US nuke deal. He is claimed to be a former member of BJP's youth wing. He was issued notice two days after the arrest of Sanjeev Saxena, who allegedly delivered bribes to lure three BJP MPs -Argal, Mahavir Bhagora and Faggan Singh Kulaste -- into voting for the Manmohan Singh government in the 2008 trial of strength over the Indo-US nuclear deal. Argal and former MP Bhagora, who were approached allegedly by Saxena to vote in favour of UPA, claimed that Saxena told them the money was given by the former SP leader. Argal said, "Saxena is related to Amar Singh. Records are there (to prove it). Saxena said he brought the money from Amar Singh's place." The police also may grill Sudheendra Kulkarni, a former aide of LK Advani, whose role a Parliamentary panel said should be investigated in connection with the scam.

http://news.oneindia.in/2011/07/20 /cash-for-vote-ex-bjp-workerhindustani-to-be-enquiredaid0156.html

Delhi Police may quiz Amar Singh in Cash-for-Vote scam: Rpt

Tuesday, July 19, 2011, 10:25 [IST] New Delhi, Jul 19: Amar Singh, is probably having the toughest time of his life. First, he was booted out of the Mulayam Singh-led Samajwadi Party, then there was his physical ailments, followed by tapped conversation with Bipasha Basu and now the arrest of his aide Sanjeev Saxena in the 2008 cash-for-votes-scam. But that is not the end of this tumultuous phase, as there seems to be more in store. According to reports, the Delhi Police have sought permission to question the beleaguered leader over the cash-for-votes scam. CNN-IBN cites sources as saying that the Delhi Police have written to the Union Home Ministry seeking permission to quiz Amar Singh and Loksabha Member Ashok Argal. It can be recalled, that despite numerous allegations from various political quarters, the duo have never been questioned in the matter. As is the procedure in such cases, if the Home Ministry has indeed received the request, then it will forward the letter to Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. It can be recollected that according to some reports. Sanjeev Saxena has claimed that Amar Singh gave him the money to bribe

some MPs to abstain from voting during the trust vote in 2008.

http://news.oneindia.in/2011/07/19 /delhi-police-seek-to-quiz-amarsingh-cash-for-vote-scamaid0120.html

Amar says he has 'full information' about cash-for-vote case

Tuesday, November 8, 2011, 13:00 [IST] New Delhi, Nov 8: Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh, facing prosecution for his alleged role in the 2008 cash-for-vote scam, today (Nov 8) claimed he has "full information" about the episode but refused to comment as case is sub-judice. "I have full information about the case. But I will not comment as the matter is subjudice," Singh said addressing a press conference here. Singh, who was undergoing treatment under judicial custody at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), was granted bail by the Delhi High Court on October 24 on "humanitarian grounds" in view of his medical condition. The former Samajwadi Party leader said he has full faith in judiciary and would not comment on the scam although a section in SP was trying to "defame" him. He said he would go to Singapore either on November 15 or 16 for further treatment of his kidney ailment. "I have delayed my visit to Singapore as my doctor has gone to the US. Now I have planned to go to Singapore either on November 15 or 16. I will apprise the court about my travel plan," he said. A Delhi court on November one had allowed him to go to Singapore from

November 8 to November 30, stipulating that he would have to furnish a surety bond of Rs 5 lakh before going abroad. Singh had moved the court last month for its permission to go abroad. The high court, while granting bail to Singh, had said that he would not leave the country without prior permission of the lower court. He was arrested in the cash-for-vote case on September 6. During the press conference, Singh demanded creation of a Poorvanchal state curved out of Uttar Pradesh and asked Chief Minister Mayawati to bring a proposal in this regard in the winter session of state Assembly.

http://news.oneindia.in/2011/11/08 /amar-has-full-information-aboutcash-for-vote-case.html

Cash-for-votes scam: High Court seeks police response on bail pleas

Press Trust of India, Updated: October 31, 2011 11:31 IST

trading" that was going on to save the then UPA-I government in the vote of trust in the Lok Sabha on July 22, 2008. Claiming themselves to be "whistle blowers" who helped in exposing corruption, the accused pleaded that the trial court had wrongly dismissed their bail pleas and that order should be set aside. Meanwhile, BJP MP Ashok Argal, an accused in the case, has also moved the Delhi High Court seeking anticipatory bail in the case and his bail plea is likely to be heard on Tuesday.

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Monday sought response from the police on the bail pleas of four accused, including Sudheendra Kulkarni, a former aide of BJP leader LK Advani, and two ex-BJP MPs in the cash-for-vote scam. Issuing notice to Delhi Police, Justice M L Mehta sought its response by November 14 on the bail pleas of Kulkarni, former BJP MPs Faggan Singh Kulaste, Mahabir Singh Bhagora and alleged BJP activist Suhail Hindustani. Justice Mehta also sought a status report from the police by the next date of hearing. The four accused approached the high court challenging the order of the trial court dismissing their bail pleas. Kulkarni, who is in jail since September 27, has challenged the trial court's order which had rejected his bail plea saying that he was the "guiding star" and "facilitator" of the conspiracy aimed at mocking the Republic of India. In the petition filed through advocate Mahipal Ahluwalia, Kulkarni claimed that he, along with the BJP MPs, got involved in the sting operation, conducted by a private news channel only to expose the "horse

http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/c ash-for-votes-scam-high-courtseeks-police-response-on-bailpleas-145333

Cash-for-votes case: Sudheendra Kulkarni remanded to judicial custody till October 1

Tanima Biswas, Updated: September 27, 2011 17:05 IST New Delhi: Sudheendra Kulkarni, former BJP advisor, was today remanded to judicial custody by a Delhi court today in connection with the cash-for-votes scam. Mr Kulkarni will now be sent to Tihar Jail. Earlier, he showed up in court today to explain his role in what's known as the cash-for-votes scam. He said he is ready to go to jail if that is a consequence of his attempt to expose the government's alleged willingness to buy votes to stay in power. Mr Kulkarni's lawyers have applied for bail on his behalf. Mr Kulkarni said he acted as a whistle-blower and a political activist in 2008 when he persuaded three BJP MPs to put themselves on the political market ahead of a trust vote for Dr Manmohan Singh. The MPs were caught on hidden camera receiving money from middlemen who allegedly represented politician Amar Singh. The MPs then walked into the Lok Sabha hours ahead of the trust vote waving the money- one crore in cash -that they said they had been paid to abstain during the vote. Dr Singh survived the vote. "Our intention was to expose the most shameful episode of corruption of purchase of opposition and independent MPs to influence their vote in Parliament so that the government that has been reduced for minority survived," said Mr Kulkarni who in 2008 was a senior advisor to BJP leaders like LK Advani. "I believed and I continued to believe that if our members of Parliament....if our MLAs are purchased like this by giving them 10 crore, 20 crore...then India's democracy would be in grave danger," he added. Amar Singh was arrested earlier this month

under the Prevention of Corruption Act but has been granted bail for medical reasons. Mr Kulkarni had skipped earlier court hearings because, he said, he was in the US with his daughter for her college admission. The judge hearing the case today said "I can't understand why some were arrested and others were not." Two of the three BJP MPs who were paid money in 2008 are in jail. The third is still serving his term as MP so the Speaker of the Lok Sabha has to sanction action against him. In Parliament a few weeks ago, Mr Advani in a dramatic episode dared the government to jail him too. He said that as Leader of the Opposition in 2008, he was aware of his party's plans to entrap the government ahead of the trust vote on July 22, 2008. Like Mr Advani, Mr Kulkarni argued today that those who helped expose corruption are being penalized while those who benefited from Amar Singh's alleged conspiracy remain untouched. "The issue is who benefited ultimately from this cash for votes? And why is it that those who benefited are all scott free today and those who try to expose it are behind bars?" asked Mr Kulkarni. The Delhi Police has so far not disclosed the source of the money paid to the BJP MPs. It has also not elaborated on whose behalf Amar Singh may have been acting by bribing BJP MPs to support the government. The BJP has repeatedly said that because Dr Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi were the intended beneficiaries of Amar Singh's actions, they should explain the cash-for-votes scam.

http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/cas h-for-votes-case-sudheendrakulkarni-remanded-to-judicialcustody-till-october-1-136543

With Amar Singh, list of Tihar's who's who grows longer

Indo-Asian News Service, Updated: September 06, 2011 21:51 IST New Delhi: Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh was on Tuesday headed to Tihar Jail on charges of corruption, the latest in a long line of high profile politicians and corporate honchos to be housed in the sprawling prison complex in West Delhi. (Read: Amar Singh lodged in 15x10 ft cell in Tihar) The former Samajwadi Party (SP) leader and two former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs Fagan Singh Kulaste and Mahavir Bhagora were arrested and sent to judicial custody till Sep 19 for their alleged role in buying votes during the 2008 trust motion in parliament. Since February, Tihar Jail has received steady stream of VIP residents. On Feb 2, former telecommunication minister A. Raja was sent to Tihar for his alleged connection in the 2G allocation scam. Former telecom secretary Siddhartha Behura and Raja's former aide RK Chandolia are also lodged in the prison on similar charges. The 2G scandal also saw DMK MP Kanimozhi and Kalaignar TV chief Sharad Kumar being arrested May 20 and sent to Tihar. Among the business honchos spending time behind the bars for alleged involvement in the 2G scam are Swan Telecom's Shahid

Usman Balwa and Vinod Goenka, Unitech Wireless' Sanjay Chandra, Cineyug Film's Karim Morani, directors of Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd Asif Balwa and Rajeev B Agarwal. Three officials of the Anil Ambani Group Gautam Doshi, Hari Nair and Surendra Pipara - were also arrested for their alleged involvement in the 2G scam. The other big scandal that nailed VIPs was the Commonwealth Games. Congress MP and sacked former chairman of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee, Suresh Kalmadi was arrested April 25. With him were his colleagues Lalit Bhanot, VK Verma and ASV Prasad. Former government official Surjeet Lal, who was attached to the Commonwealth Games, is also in jail.

http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/with -amar-singh-list-of-tihars-whos-whogrows-longer-131776

No opposition for bail to cash-for-vote scam accused: Police

November 14, 2011 17:27 IST
The Delhi [ Images ] police on Monday did not oppose the bail petitions of the five jailed accused in the 2008 cash-for-vote case, including two former Bharatiya Janata Party [ Images ] Members of Parliament and L K Advani's [ Images ] former aide Sudheendra Kulkarni, besides the anticipatory bail plea of a party MP in the Delhi high court.

by it from appearing before the trial court, which had summoned him in response to a Delhi police charge sheet indicting him for his alleged role in the case. Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh, who is also an accused in the case, has already been granted bail by the high court on health grounds. The trial court had on October 21 dismissed the bail pleas of Kulkarni, Bhagora and Kulaste. Kulkarni, who is in jail since September 27, has appealed against the trial court's order which had rejected his bail plea saying he was the "guiding star" and "facilitator" of the conspiracy aimed at mocking the Republic of India [ Images ]. Kulkarni, in his petition, had claimed that he, along with the BJP MPs, got involved in the sting operation conducted by a private news channel only to expose the "horse trading" that was going on to save the then UPA-I government in the trust vote in Lok Sabha on July 22, 2008. Kulkarni has been chargesheeted under section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC and provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act. Kulaste, who was arrested on September 6 along with Bhagora and Amar Singh, in his petition had questioned the probe and had said that he was entitled to bail as the investigation in the case was "tainted." The trial court had also rejected bail to Hindustani on September 29 and Saxena, who was arrested on July 17.

Justice M L Mehta reserved the order on the pleas of the six accused till November 16. "The honourable court may consider granting bail to all the six accused who have filed their bail applications in the court," Delhi police counsel Pawan Sharma told the high court during the hearing of the bail pleas of the five jailed accused and the anticipatory bail plea of BJP MP Ashok Argal. The five jailed accused -- former BJP law makers Faggan Singh Kulaste and Mahabir Singh Bhagora, Kulkarni, Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh's [ Images ] former aide Sanjeev Saxena and alleged BJP activist Suhail Hindustani-approached the high court challenging the trial court's order denying them bail. Justice Mehta will on Tuesday hear the anticipatory bail plea of Samajwadi Party leader Rewati Raman Singh, who was summoned as an accused by the trial court judge recently. During the hearing, the counsel for Delhi police said the probe into the case was over and custodial interrogation of none of the accused was required. Ashok Argal, who has moved the high court for anticipatory bail, was earlier granted exemption

http://www.rediff.com/news/report/noopposition-for-bail-to-cash-for-vote-scamaccused-says-police/20111114.htm