Cash-for-query scam: Court summons 11 ex-MPs

NEW DELHI: A Delhi court has issued summons against 11 former MPs for being allegedly involved in corrupt practice of taking money for asking questions in parliament in 2005.

Besides the ex-Parliamentarians, two journalists of web portal cobrapost.com Aniruddha Bahal and Suhasini Raj were also made accused in the chargesheet for abetting the offence under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Special Judge Rakesh Siddharth sought the presence of the ex-MPs, who were later expelled from parliament after being found guilty by the House Ethics Committee, before the court on August 20.

Delhi Police had chargesheeted the 11 former MPs for misusing their office when they were caught on camera seeking money during a sting operation for asking questions in Parliament in what came to be known as cash-for-query scam.

Among the then lawmakers who were expelled by the Speaker after being caught on camera accepting money in 2005 one Raja Rampal, who was re-elected in 15th Lok Sabha, has not been summoned as his name has been put by the police in column number two (list containing names against whom inquiry is pending) and the police had yet not received sanction for prosecuting him.