Cash-for-vote scam: Police make first arrest, to quiz Amar Singh

NEW DELHI: Slammed by Supreme Court for a shoddy probe in the cash-for-vote scam, Delhi Police today made its first arrest in the case picking up Sanjeev Saxena, believed to be an aide of Amar Singh, for allegedly trying to bribe BJP MPs ahead of UPA government's trust vote in 2008.

A senior police official said the investigators would also question expelled Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh and a few others in the coming days.

Police sources said Saxena was arrested this afternoon following his questioning in connection with the probe into the incident which came to light on July 22, 2008 when BJP MPs displayed wads of notes in Lok Sabha alleging that the money had been offered as bribe to them.

Saxena has been charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act, police said.

The BJP had alleged that Saxena was Amar Singh's aide and he was allegedly caught on camera giving money to the BJP MPs. They had also alleged that it was Saxena who called Amar Singh from his mobile phone and got the three MPs to talk to him in order to fix a deal. Amar Singh had denied any role and had also distanced himself from Saxena.

"He (Saxena) was arrested from Delhi by Crime Branch team. There was evidence against him in this case. He will be produced before the court tomorrow," a top police official said.