Thaindian News

New Delhi, Oct 19 (IANS) The Delhi Police Wednesday did not oppose the interim and regular bail applications of ailing Rajya Sabha member and former Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh, charged in the 2008 cash-for-votes scandal in parliament, and the Delhi High Court reserved its order on the pleas till Oct 24.

“The orders on the bail applications are reserved. Come on Monday for the order,” Justice Suresh Kait said.

The ruling came after police submitted before the court that the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), where Amar Singh is admitted, said in its report that the MP’s condition was critical and he needed constant monitoring.

“We can not dispute the medical report of AIIMS,” said Delhi Police counsel, adding that Amar Singh had recorded his statement in the case so keeping in mind his medical condition they did not require his further custody.

The investigation into the case was over and only a final report had to be filed before the trial court, police said.

Police, who earlier opposed Amar Singh’s bail plea, took a U-turn and told Justice Kait that the MP’s background was clean as he had never tried to influence witnesses.

Police counsel favoured granting bail to the MP if he agreed not to leave the country and not tamper with evidence.

During the arguments, the court asked Amar Singh’s counsel if it was correct to say that he was the only bread earner in his family - a reason cited by him to seek bail.

The AIIMS report said Amar Singh “needs to be constantly monitored for renal function infections”.

It said he was suffering from artery and respiratory problems besides urinary tract infection.

“Following discharge, he (Amar Singh) needs to take medicines and follow a routine as directed to prevent any kidney transplant function deterioration,” the report said.

After a Delhi court Sep 28 rejected Amar Singh’s interim and regular bail pleas, the 55-year-old continues to be treated at the AIIMS where he was admitted Sep 12.

He was held Sep 6 for his alleged involvement in an attempt to bribe MPs ahead of the July 2008 parliament trust vote.

He was chargesheeted under section 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, with section 120 B (conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code.

In a related development, the special trial court hearing the cash-for-votes case Monday asked the police to include Samajwadi Party MP Rewati Raman Singh as an accused in the case, saying there was sufficient material to show he was part of the criminal conspiracy.

On July 22, 2008, then Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs Faggan Singh Kulaste, Mahavir Bhagora and Ashok Argal waved wads of currency notes in the Lok Sabha ahead of a trust vote, alleging they were given the money to vote in favour of the Manmohan Singh government.

After a Supreme Court rap for shoddy probe, Delhi Police July 17 made their first arrest in the case, taking Amar Singh’s secretary Sanjeev Saxena into custody.

Three days later, middleman Suhail Hindustani was arrested and Sep 6 Kulaste and Bhagora were taken into custody.

BJP leader L.K. Advani’s former aide Sudheendra Kulkarni was the sixth person to be arrested in the case when he appeared before the court Sep 27.

A second supplementary charge sheet filed Oct 3 made Argal, a BJP MP from Bhind in Madhya Pradesh, an accused in the case.