NEW DELHI: Criminal proceedings could be taken up against the 11 MPs caught on camera allegedly taking money for the favour of asking questions in Parliament. However, any move will have to wait until the parliamentary inquiries are completed and action by the presiding officers is taken.

Apparently, the subject was discussed among senior ministers and Congress leaders on Tuesday morning before Parliament convened. It was said that since the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and the Speaker of the Lok Sabha already initiated action, this process should first be completed. Criminal proceedings following completion of parliamentary action was not ruled out.

It has been pointed out that the amendment to the Prevention of Corruption Act in 1988 enlarged the definition of a public servant to include MPs.

A view emerged among party leaders across the political spectrum that Parliament itself was competent to mete out swift and exemplary punishment to MPs found guilty. The mood is for expulsion and precedents are available. There is also the view being expressed by some parliamentarians that the presiding officers and Parliament should handle the situation and not leave it to courts. After all, procedures in courts tend to be lengthy and the mood at the moment is to hand out quick justice.

Separately, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi told reporters that the deadline for the 10 of the 11 MPs to file their responses to the show cause notices issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat would expire at 10.30 on Wednesday morning.

Thereafter, their replies would be placed before the Pawan Bansal Committee. He could not guess how long it would take for the committee to arrive at any conclusion.

But the action in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, where the ethics committee headed by Karan Singh recommended the immediate suspension of the lone Rajya Sabha member Chhatrapal Singh of the BJP, is a pointer to the seriousness with which political parties are taking the issue. The entire House approved and applauded the suspension and even BJP members clapped hands.

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