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BJP MPs display money given to them for abstaining from the trust vote. Photo Courtesy: AFP.
BJP MPs display money given to them for abstaining from the trust vote. Photo Courtesy: AFP.

Committee needs more time to probe cash-for-vote scam

Sun-Oct 19, 2008

New Delhi / Indo-Asian News Service

A parliamentary committee tasked to probe the allegations of bribery levelled by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs has asked for more time to finalise its report.

"We need to examine more evidence for which we require more time. It's a serious issue and it concerns people's faith in our parliamentary system. We have to examine each and every evidence in its minute detail," Krishna Chandra Deo, chairman of the committee said on Sunday.

The seven-member committee constituted by Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee under the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business to go into allegations levelled by the three BJP MPs - Ashok Argal, Faggan Singh Kulaste and Mahesh Bhagora.

The MPs said they were offered cash for their support in the crucial trust vote of July 22. They alleged that Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh was behind the entire episode and also named Ahmed Patel, Congress president Sonia Gandhi's political secretary, as an accomplice.

The committee was expected to submit the report by Oct 17. However, the panel has not been able to finish its proceedings and will meet again Oct 30.

"We are going through the procedural requirements of the enquiry and the committee members will meet to discuss the progress of the investigation," said Deo.

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