Thaindian News

New Delhi, Oct 20 (IANS) Former Bharatiya Janata Party president Bangaru Laxman Thursday withdrew his plea from the Delhi High Court seeking quashing of a criminal case against him for allegedly accepting money from fictitious arms dealers in 2001.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said that Laxman, who is facing trial in a Delhi court, fudged the BJP accounts to accommodate Rs.1 lakh received from a fictitious firm, a charge refuted by the politician.

Laxman is facing trial under various offences under the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act for allegedly accepting bribe from the fictitious arms dealers in a sting operation conducted by Tehelka.

Counsel for Laxman submitted before Justice Mukta Gupta that there were various judgments of the Supreme Court which said the prosecution was “untenable” if it was based on a sting operation.

“As the court has not granted stay, most of the prosecution witnesses have already been examined in the trial and only the investigating officer is to be examined. I seek leave to withdraw one of the petitions with the liberty to raise the issues before the trial court during the final arguments,” said counsel for Laxman.

The court was hearing his plea seeking quashing of a first information report, lodged by the CBI after he was caught on camera receiving money from undercover journalists, posing as arms dealers, of Tehlaka portal allegedly for recommending to the ministry of defence to purchase their wares for the army.