Thaindian News

New Delhi, Oct 31 (IANS) The Delhi High Court Monday issued notice to Delhi Police on the bail pleas of Sudheendra Kulkarni, advisor to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs Faggan Singh Kulaste and Mahabir Singh Bhagora who are accused in the cash-for-votes scam during the 2008 trust vote.

Justice M.L. Mehta sought the response of Delhi Police by Nov 14.

Kulkarni, who has been in jail since Sep 27, has challenged the trial court’s rejection of his bail plea saying 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 said 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 United Progressive Alliance government in the trust vote in the Lok Sabha July 22, 2008.

Kulkarni has been chargesheeted for criminal conspiracy.

Notice was also issued to Delhi Police after taking note of the bail application filed by political worker Suhail Hindustani, who is also behind bars for his alleged role in the case.

Hindustani approached the court challenging the verdict of the trial court that dismissed the bail pleas of the accused.

Besides former Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh, BJP MP Ashok Argal and Samajwadi Party MP Rewati Raman Singh have also been named accused in the case.

The high court earlier granted bail to Amar Sigh on medical grounds and stayed the summoning order issued by the trial court to Rewati Raman Singh.

Besides Hindustani, Amar Singh’s former aide Sanjeev Saxena is also facing prosecution in the case.

Questioning the police probe, Kulaste, who filed his petition through advocate Anil Soni, said he was entitled to bail as the investigation in the case was “tainted” and the police had not yet traced the money trail.

The trial court, while dismissing the bail pleas of Kulaste and Bhagora, said that it appeared that since July 21, 2008, the accused remained a part of the criminal conspiracy hatched between Hindustani and Kulkarni.

Kulkarni, along with the two BJP leaders, is currently lodged in Tihar Jail. Saxena is also in judicial custody.

Kulaste and Bhagora were arrested Sep 6 along with Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh.