Amar Singh may be questioned by police

Panel didnt find prima facie evidence against ex-SP leader

However, Union Minister Kishore Chandra Deo, who headed the parliamentary committee to probe the scam then, said that Singh was not summoned before the panel as there was no prima facie evidence against the former Samajwadi Party leader. 

The police is believed to have started the formalities of taking required permission for questioning Amar Singh since permission of Chairman of  Rajya Sabha is essential to question a member of the Upper House.

Saxena, said to be a close associate of Singh, had allegedly carried the cash to the house of three  BJP MPs to ensure their vote in favour of the UPA government during the trust vote. He was  arrested on Sunday.

Allegations were levelled by then BJP MPs Ashok Argal, Faggan Singh Kulaste and Mahavir Bhagora that Saxena delivered Rs one crore to them at the residence of Ashok Argal to vote in favour of UPA.

The case was registered in 2009 on the recommendation of the parliamentary committee. Kulaste alleged that Saxena was introduced to him and Argal by Amar Singh as his secretary on July 22, 2008, says the prosecution.

According to sources, Suhail Hindustani, the purported whistle-blower of the cash-vote-for-vote scam may also be questioned. He is said to have been summoned by the police.

Hindsutani has been a small time worker of BJP. He shot to fame after he became a part of a sting operation in July, 2008, which suggested that money was offered to BJP MPs for voting in favor of UPA.

Police is also looking for Amar Singh’s driver Sanjay who drove Saxena to the houses of the MPs. The mobile used during this operation is also being searched by the police.

Ex-BJP MPs Mahavir Singh Bhagora and Fagan Singh Kulaste have already been questioned. Union Panchayati Raj Minister Kishore Chandra Deo on Tuesday said the former SP leader was not called for questioning as there was no prima facie evidence against him.

He said the tapes before the panel did not have a voice or image of Amar Singh. Amar Singh was a member of the Rajya Sabha and seeking his appearance before the panel involved a long process, he added.

Deo, who assumed charge of the ministry on Tuesday, said the Delhi Police were conducting further investigations according to the recommendations of the committee.

“My stand is vindicated,” Deo said and asserted there was no mala fide intention on the part of the government and the Delhi Police in delaying the probe.