Cash-for-vote:HC seeks police response on bail plea of accused

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Monday sought response from the police on the bail pleas of four accused, including Sudheendra Kulkarni, a former aide of BJP leader L K Advani, and two ex-BJP MPs in the cash-for-vote scam.

Issuing notice to Delhi Police, Justice M L Mehta sought its response by November 14 on the bail pleas of Kulkarni, former BJP MPs Faggan Singh Kulaste, Mahabir Singh Bhagora and alleged BJP activist Suhail Hindustani.

Justice Mehta also sought a status report from the police by the next date of hearing.

The four accused approached the high court challenging the order of the trial court dismissing their bail pleas.

Kulkarni, who is in jail since September 27, has challenged the trial court's order which had rejected his bail plea saying that he was the "guiding star" and "facilitator" of the conspiracy aimed at mocking the Republic of India.

In the petition filed through advocate Mahipal Ahluwalia, Kulkarni claimed that he, along with the BJP MPs, got involved in the sting operation, conducted by a private news channel only to expose the "horse trading" that was going on to save the then UPA-I government in the vote of trust in the Lok Sabha on July 22, 2008.

Claiming themselves to be "whistle blowers" who helped in exposing corruption, the accused pleaded that the trial court had wrongly dismissed their bail pleas and that order should be set aside.

Meanwhile, BJP MP Ashok Argal, an accused in the case, has also moved the Delhi High Court seeking anticipatory bail in the case and his bail plea is likely to be heard tomorrow.