Thaindian News

New Delhi, Nov 16 (IANS) The Delhi High Court Wednesday granted bail to Sudheendra Kulkarni, ex-advisor to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and five other accused in the 2008 cash-for-votes scam that had rocked parliament ahead of a trust vote.

“All the petitioners are admitted on bail on furnishing of personal and surety bond of Rs.2 lakh each,” Justice M.L. Mehta said.

The court granted bail to Kulkarni, former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs Faggan Singh Kulaste and Mahabir Singh Bhagora, Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh’s former aide Sanjeev Saxena and alleged political activist Suhail Hindustani.

It directed all the petitioners to cooperate in investigation, if required by Delhi Police.

The court also granted anticipatory bail to accused and sitting BJP MP Ashok Argal and directed him to appear before the court concerned. Police have received Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar’s nod to proceed against Argal.

The BJP immediately rejoiced on the release of its leaders and said that it was unfortunate that whistle blowers were put behind bars.

In a tweet, BJP leader Sushma Swaraj said: “I am happy that Shri Faggan Singh Kulaste, Mahavir Bhagora and Sudheendra Kulkarni have been directed to be released on bail.”

“They have done no wrong. They only exposed corruption. We will not rest only with this. We will fight till they are honourably exonerated by the court,” the BJP leader added.

At a press conference, BJP leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy said it was a “relief to these leaders”.

“It is unfortunate that whistle blowers in this case were put in jail and culpability of beneficiaries of the cash-for-vote scam is yet to be established. Who benefited from this - UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government or PM (Prime Minister Manmohan Singh) - it should become clear,” he told reporters.

Justice Mehta, in his order, said: “I have gone through the entire voluminous charge sheet but couldn’t find any prima facie evidence or recording of the illegal gratification by three MPs.”

The court reserved its order on the anticipatory bail plea of Samajwadi Party leader Rewati Raman Singh, who was recently summoned as an accused by the trial court.

On July 22, 2008, Argal, Kulaste and Bhagora waved wads of currency notes in the Lok Sabha just hours ahead of a trust vote, alleging they were given the money to vote in favour of the Manmohan Singh government.

Saxena was accused of delivering Rs.1 crore to Kulaste, Bhagora and Argal under an alleged conspiracy to buy their votes for the Congress-led UPA government in the trust motion.

The court Nov 14 reserved its order on the five accused’s bail after Delhi Police did not oppose the bail petitions.

Delhi Police counsel Pawan Sharma earleir told Justice Mehta that the probe into the case was over and custodial interrogation of none of the accused was required.

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 dismissed the bail pleas of Kulkarni, Bhagora and Kulaste Oct 21.

Kulkarni, who had been in jail since Sep 27, appealed against the trial court’s order which rejected his bail plea, saying he was the guiding star and facilitator of the conspiracy aimed at mocking the Republic of India.

He was chargesheeted under penal provisions for criminal conspiracy and sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Kulaste was arrested Sep 6 along with Bhagora and Amar Singh. The trial court had also rejected bail to Hindustani and Saxena, arrested July 17.