Digvijay granted bail in secretariat recruitment scam

Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh was today granted bail by a local court after he appeared before it in connection with an alleged recruitment scam when he was Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh during 1993-2003.

Singh, along with his lawyers, appeared before the Additional District and Session Judge Kashinath Singh, a day after the court issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against the former chief minister, who is an accused in the case, for not turning up before it.

The court granted bail to Singh after he furnished a bond of Rs 30,000. The prosecution did not oppose his bail.

A 169-page supplementary charge sheet was filed yesterday in the case which pertains to alleged irregularities in recruitment in the state Assembly Secretariat.

Singh has been charged with forgery, cheating, conspiracy and misuse of office as well as offences under Prevention of Corruption Act.

Singh was accompanied by MP Congress President Arun Yadav, former Union Minister Suresh Pachouri and his lawyer Vivek Tankha.

Tankha pleaded before the court that his client is a renowned politician and he failed to appear before the court yesterday as there was an important event in Ujjain where his presence was essential as it was planned in advance.

"My client respects the court and has no intention to run away from it as he has already recorded his statement on the issue before the police," Tankha told the court.

"The case is 'politically motivated' and is a fallout of the Vyapam scam (alleged recruitment scam in government jobs and also in admission to medical and dental colleges). Even the probe committee had not found anything against him," the lawyer submitted.

Tankha also said that Singh is a Rajya Sabha member and a former Chief Minister who enjoys a clean image and deserves to be released on bail.

As the prosecution did not raise any objection to Tankha's submission, the court granted bail to Singh.

A large number of Congressmen had also gathered in the court premises.

Last year, Singh had reportedly told investigators that all recruitments in the Secretariat during his tenure were done with the approval of the state cabinet and as per prescribed rules.