BJP's anti-graft campaign takes a hit as former party president Bangaru Laxman convicted in bribery case

NEW DELHI: BJP's anti-corruption campaign against the Congress-led UPA government received a blow on Friday when Bangaru Laxman was convicted by a local court for accepting Rs 1 lakh as bribe when he was BJP president.

Two journalists of a web portal had posed as arms dealers, 11 years ago, in a sting operation that trapped Laxman and rocked the Vajpayee-led NDA government.

The development came just a day after BJP and its alliance partners stalled proceedings in the two Houses of Parliament demanding a judicial probe into the Bofors gun scandal cover-up. The former BJP president's conviction knocks the bottom off the party's anti-corruption plank.

Immediately after the court of special CBI judge Kanwaljeet Arora pronounced its verdict, the 72-year-old BJP leader was sent to Tihar jail. He will be produced in the court on Saturday when the arguments on the quantum of sentence will be heard. He can be imprisoned for up to five years.

Laxman, who was caught on camera accepting money in his chamber in the party headquarters in early 2001, had to step down as BJP president soon after the portal put out the sting at a news conference.

Congress, which has been at the receiving end of BJP's corruption charges, was quick to pounce on the court verdict to pillory its principal political adversary. "BJP has made history today with its former president getting convicted of corruption. I was sad when Jaswant Singh called for a judicial commission on Bofors. Wish Jaswant Singh should have asked for a judicial probe on Tehelka sting. It's a sad day for politics in India. I wish no more Bangaru Laxman should emerge either on camera or off. With what face can they ask for a judicial commission on Bofors now," said Union telecom mnister Kapil Sibal.

"BJP should introspect about their six years in government...the conviction of their former president should show BJP that those who live in glasshouses should not throw stones at others,'' observerd Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari.

A red-faced BJP sought to distance itself from its former president's conviction, describing it as an issue involving his personal conduct, although Laxman is a member of the party's national executive. "This case is about his (Laxman) personal conduct. The charges levelled against him were about the deed done by him as an individual. Within hours of the issue coming to light, BJP had taken a decision and he was no longer the party president,'' BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said.

The court, while rejecting Laxman's plea for bail, said it would look into the aspect only after the sentence was announced. The former BJP president appeared stunned in the witness box as the judge pronounced his verdict. He did not to talk to any one and sat in the witness box for a long time. His daughter was also present in the court.

"CBI has been able to establish the case of accepting 1 lakh bribe against Bangaru Laxman. Accused Bangaru Laxman stands convicted for the offence under Section 9 (taking gratification for exercise of personal influence with public servant) of the Prevention of Corruption Act,'' the judge said.