House panel draft report finds no evidence against Amar, Ahmed
The draft report of the parliamentary committee which probed the alleged cash-for-vote scam says there is no clinching evidence to establish the involvement of Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh.
By C L Manoj, ET Bureau |
The draft report of the parliamentary committee which probed the alleged cash-for-vote scam says there is no clinching evidence to establish the involvement of Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh and Congress leader Ahmed Patel in the episode that rocked the Lok Sabha on the day of the trust vote.
The draft was circulated among members of the panel on behalf of chairman Kishore Chandra Deo on Sunday. According to sources, the draft report went strictly by the quality of evidence put before the committee ��� tapes of a private TV channel which did a sting operation in collaboration with BJP MPs Ashok Argal, Fhagan Singh Kuleste and M Bhagor. The MPs had flashed wards of currency in the Lok Sabha on the day of the trust vote and complained to the Speaker that Mr Singh and Mr Patel tried to bribe them for getting their support for the trust vote.
Sources said the draft report said the examination of evidence (tapes) showed no clinching evidence to indict Mr Singh or Mr Patel. While the tapes showed the gate and residence of Mr Singh and some people going in and out of it, there was no clinching evidence to show his involvement in the alleged bribing.
As far as the role of Mr Ahmed Patel was concerned, the draft report said the tapes contained absolutely no material to indict him. However, the draft contains some criticism of SP MP Reoti Raman Singh, who was shown in the tapes as indulging in some ���loose talk.���
On the issue of the deposition of witnesses like Mr Sudheendra Kulkarni, Mr Amar Singh���s aide Sanjeev Saxena and Mr Sohail Hindustani, the draft report is learnt to have opined that their remarks could be referred to a criminal investigating agency for a probe.
Pointing out that three BJP MPs never lodged a criminal complaint after making the allegation of attempt to bribe, the draft report felt that charges of criminal nature was best probed by an investigating agency.
The committee is scheduled to meet on Monday to formally discuss the draft. As per the rules, committee members could endorse, suggest amendments or even choose to give a dissenting note, once the draft is presented before the panel. The panel will meet later to prepare the final report for the Lok Sabha.
The draft was circulated among members of the panel on behalf of chairman Kishore Chandra Deo on Sunday. According to sources, the draft report went strictly by the quality of evidence put before the committee ��� tapes of a private TV channel which did a sting operation in collaboration with BJP MPs Ashok Argal, Fhagan Singh Kuleste and M Bhagor. The MPs had flashed wards of currency in the Lok Sabha on the day of the trust vote and complained to the Speaker that Mr Singh and Mr Patel tried to bribe them for getting their support for the trust vote.
Sources said the draft report said the examination of evidence (tapes) showed no clinching evidence to indict Mr Singh or Mr Patel. While the tapes showed the gate and residence of Mr Singh and some people going in and out of it, there was no clinching evidence to show his involvement in the alleged bribing.
As far as the role of Mr Ahmed Patel was concerned, the draft report said the tapes contained absolutely no material to indict him. However, the draft contains some criticism of SP MP Reoti Raman Singh, who was shown in the tapes as indulging in some ���loose talk.���
On the issue of the deposition of witnesses like Mr Sudheendra Kulkarni, Mr Amar Singh���s aide Sanjeev Saxena and Mr Sohail Hindustani, the draft report is learnt to have opined that their remarks could be referred to a criminal investigating agency for a probe.
Pointing out that three BJP MPs never lodged a criminal complaint after making the allegation of attempt to bribe, the draft report felt that charges of criminal nature was best probed by an investigating agency.
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The committee is scheduled to meet on Monday to formally discuss the draft. As per the rules, committee members could endorse, suggest amendments or even choose to give a dissenting note, once the draft is presented before the panel. The panel will meet later to prepare the final report for the Lok Sabha.
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