'Cash-for-vote scam not US diplomat's figment of imagination'

"I don't think it can be manufactured thing or a figment of imagination. We knew all of this had happened. It was a well known fact, this is an additional confirmation," he said.

He was responding to a US embassy cable made public by Wikileaks which claimed that Congress leader Satish Sharma's aide Nachiketa Kapur showed a US embassy employee "two chests containing cash" and said Rs 50-60 crore is ready for use as "pay-offs" to win the support of some MPs ahead of crucial vote of confidence in UPA government over the nuclear deal.

Karat said the American diplomat was doing his job as a diplomat. "They have reported what they have seen. Well, I don't disbelieve the fact that their political counsellor has seen two boxes shown by somebody," he said.

"The US have reported or recorded what they have seen or heard. Thats not their job to go beyond that. As far as we are concerned, it is a matter of deep concern that this has happened to our Parliament and our democratic system," he said.

He said the cables showed that the US embassy in New Delhi was closely following developments regarding the nuclear deal, the withdrawal of support by Left and the vote of confidence.