Cash-for-query scam: seven former MPs get bail

A city court granted bail to seven former MPs who have been formally charged with allegedly accepting money for asking questions in parliament in 2005.

A city court on Wednesday granted bail to seven former MPs who have been formally charged with allegedly accepting money for asking questions in parliament in 2005.

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Special Judge Rakesh Siddharath granted bail to the seven former parliamentarians, saying the police had not arrested them during investigations into the case, and also asked the seven to join the probe when required.

The court asked them to submit a personal and surety bond of Rs 25,000 each.

Those granted bails are Chattrapal Singh Lodh, Annasaheb MK Patil, YG Mahajan, Naresh Kumar Kushwaha, Lal Chand Kol, Ram Sewak Singh and Chander Pratap Singh.

The police opposed their bail plea, saying they being public representatives had accepted money for raising questions in parliament. Their act was videographed and the authenticity of the video tapes has been proved in the forensic reports.

Delhi Police had chargesheeted the former MPs for misusing their office as they were caught on camera in 2005 seeking money for asking questions in parliament in what came to be known as the cash-for-query scam.

Besides the ex-MPs, two journalists of web portal cobrapost.com, Aniruddha Bahal and Suhasini Raj, who were also made accused in the case for abetting the offence under the Prevention of Corruption Act, were granted exemption from appearance by the court in view of an order of the Delhi High Court.

The sting operation against the then MPs was conducted by Bahal and Raj and telecast by Aaj Tak news channel Dec 12, 2005.