BJP in defence of Kulkarni, asks why beneficiaries not quizzed

BJP today rose to the defence of former L K Advani aide Sudheendra Kulkarni in the cash-for-vote scam, saying whistle-blowers cannot be charged and wondered why those who had benefitted from the scandal had not even been questioned.

BJP on Tuesday rose to the defence of former L K Advani aide Sudheendra Kulkarni in the cash-for-vote scam, saying whistle-blowers cannot be charged and wondered why those who had benefitted from the scandal had not even been questioned.

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"There cannot be a charge of entrapment against whistle-blowers when there is a charge of bribe-giving against others," Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley told reporters in reference to former SP leader Amar Singh who is an accused in the case.

Singh has been charged with providing the money to be paid to the three BJP MPs in the cash-for-vote scam.

Jaitley said such an exercise is undertaken often by CBI and police to expose bribe-takers.

Kulkarni was arrested for his alleged involvement in the July 2008 cash-for-vote scam.

Pointing fingers at Congress and SP, BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman wondered why those who had benefitted from the scam had not even been questioned while the whistleblowers were sent to jail.

"Those who benefitted from the cash-for-vote scam, those who had shown currency chests to US Embassy officials had not even been questioned. We are concerned as those who retained power due to this scam have not even been called (by the investigating agencies and the court)," Sitharaman said.

She said this was a "lop-sided, one-sided" inquiry.

"Why has nobody from Congress or Samajwadi Party, except for Amar Singh who was in SP earlier, been questioned? This inqquiry as it is, is a farce," she said.

Kulkarni, who recently returned from the US, maintained that he played the role of a whistleblower and was innocent.

After the verdict, Kulkarni said, "I maintain I am innocent. I have done nothing wrong. I cannot be an accused in the the case.... If my going to jail will help in the truth coming out, I will be very happy."