No proof of Rewati Raman's role in cash-for-vote scam: cops
The Delhi Police today told a city court that there is no evidence till now to show Samajwadi Party leader Rewati Raman Singh's involvement in the 2008 cash-for-vote scam.
Public Prosecutor Rajiv Mohan told Special Judge Sangita Dhingra Sehgal that on the basis of evidence available on record, it cannot be said that Singh was part of the alleged conspiracy to bribe parliamentarians to secure their support during voting on the 2008 trust vote sought by the UPA-I government and so he has not named in the charge sheet.
"There is no evidence available against him to name him as accused in the charge sheet. There is no conversation or talk or any record to show that Rewati Raman Singh was part of the conspiracy," said the prosecutor.
Mohan made the submission in response to the court's direction a day earlier to apprise it of the probe into alleged involvement Rewati Raman Singh in the scam and also spell out its stand on his role.
Regarding defence counsel's allegation that Rewati Raman Singh had met BJP MPs and was in constant touch with them during the trust vote on July 22, 2008, the prosecutor said meeting BJP MPs was not prohibited.
He said if the meeting had been held, then the prosecution has to see if it was for any illegal purpose.
He said Singh was interrogated by the Crime Branch of Delhi Police and the statement of other accused including two former BJP MPs had also been recorded but no role can be attributed to Singh and that is why he was not named in the charge sheet.
Meanwhile, the court reserved for October 21 its order on the bail pleas of Sudheendra Kulkarni, former aide of BJP leader L K Advani, and two former BJP MPs -- Faggan Singh Kulaste and Mahabir Singh Bhagora, also accused in the case.
The court's query on Rewati Raman Singh had come after the counsel for Kulaste and Bhagora, during the hearing on their bail pleas, alleged police had not recorded Singh's statement despite the fact that he was seen in a CD of a sting operation conducted by a private channel.
The counsel, appearing for Kulkarni, too said the call records of Rewati Raman Singh suggest he was in constant touch with other accused in the case during commission of the alleged offence.
The judge had told the prosecution yesterday, "I have not been interfering in the investigation till date but when time comes, the court would have to step in. I remember you (prosecutor) had said you are doing something with regard to Rewati Raman Singh. What have you done till date? Did you record his statement?"
