Cash-for-votes: Kulkarni appears before court

PTI

New Delhi, 27 September 2011: Senior BJP leader L K Advani’s former aide Sudheendra Kulkarni today appeared before a Delhi court in response to its summons for his alleged role in the 2008 cash-for-vote scam.

 

Kulkarni appeared before Special Judge Sangita Dhingra Sehgal after repeatedly failing to do so on September 6 and September 19 on the ground that he was in the US.

 

The court had on September 19 warned his counsel that his failure to appear on the next date would force it to issue arrest warrant against him.

 

Talking to the media persons before making his appearance in court, Kulkarni said he was a whistle blower and his attempt was to expose corruption.

 

"The charge against me is false and politically motivated. My role in the entire matter was that of a whistle blower. Along with my associates, 3 BJP MPs and Suhail Hindustani, I attempted to expose the purchase of MPs for securing victory in the confidence vote that the then government was seeking in Lok Sabha in July 2008," Kularni said.

 

He claimed that he had "nothing to hide" and that he was not running away from anyone.

 

"I am ready to go to jail if exposing corruption is a crime," he said.

 

The court is also slated to hear the regular bail pleas of Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh and co-accused Sanjeev Saxena in the case.

 

The charge sheet filed by Delhi Police in the matter has alleged that Kulkarni turned towards Samajwadi Party leaders in a bid to influence the vote of confidence in the UPA-I government after he failed to make inroads in the Congress camp.

 

To achieve his design, Kulkarni allegedly "masterminded" the conspiracy to bribe MPs and "directed" co-accused Suhail Hindustani to divert his efforts towards Samajwadi Party leaders who met the BJP MPs ahead of the voting on confidence motion in Lok Sabha, the charge sheet said.

 

It claimed that Kulkarni swung into action after Hindustani told him about the "vulnerability" of three erstwhile BJP MPs Ashok Argal, Faggan Singh Kulaste and Mahabir Singh Bhagora and held a meeting with them on July 21, 2008 at his residence 17, B R Mehta Lane.

 

The Delhi Police alleged that due to the efforts by Hindustani, Rs one crore bribe each was paid to the three MPs.

 

Kulkarni has been charge sheeted under section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code and various provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.