The Hindu : National : Kulkarni, Saxena to be probed further

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Kulkarni, Saxena to be probed further

Neena Vyas

Deo report referred to Home Ministry

NEW DELHI: Speaker Somnath Chatterjee on Tuesday referred to the Home Ministry for “appropriate action” the matter related to three persons involved in the cash-for-votes scandal.

The Kishore Chandra Deo Committee had suggested that the role of the three persons needed to be investigated further by appropriate agencies. “I am accordingly, referring the matter pertaining to the three said persons to the Honourable Minister of Home Affairs for appropriate action in the light of the recommendations of the Committee,” said the Speaker.

The committee’s report was tabled in the Lok Sabha on Monday. It recommended further action on the role of Sudheendra Kulkarni, political aide to Leader of the Opposition L.K. Advani; Sanjeev Saxena, aide till recently to Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh, and Sohail Hindustani, a BJP Yuva Morcha activist, whom Mr. Kulkarni knew well for the last several years.

No sign of weakness

Reading a statement — he did not allow any discussion — the Speaker also warned the media against reporting prematurely on the nature of discussions that may take place on the inquiry committee or other parliamentary committees. He noted that “indulgence shown by the House in the event of such transgressions indicated neither its weakness nor its inability to act.”

The Enquiry Committee observed that such reporting amounted to a breach of privilege and contempt of the House and also lowered the dignity of the Enquiry Committee as well as the House.

Going over the events of July 22 and the days immediately afterwards, Mr. Chatterjee pointed out that the complaints of three BJP MPs were received on July 25. They alleged that they were “sought to be bribed by the leaders of the Congress and the Samajwadi Party to help the United Progressive Alliance government by refraining from voting against the confidence motion.”

The Enquiry Committee of seven members was set up by the Speaker. Its report found that the “material on record does not conclusively prove that the money contained in the bag, which was eventually displayed in the House, was actually sent” by the persons alleged to have sent it for the purpose of winning over the BJP MPs — Faggan Singh Kulaste, Mahavir Bhagora and Ashok Argal.

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