Fresh summons against accused MPs in cash-for-query scam

A Delhi court on Thursday issued fresh summons against 11 former MPs for being allegedly involved in corrupt practice of taking money for asking questions in Parliament in 2005.

A Delhi court on Thursday issued fresh summons against 11 former MPs for being allegedly involved in corrupt practice of taking money for asking questions in Parliament in 2005.

HT Image

Special Judge Rakesh Siddharth sought presence of the accused ex-Parliamentarians on October 14 as they failed to appear before it in connection with the case.

Besides the ex-MPs, two journalists of web portal cobrapost.Com Aniruddha Bahal and Suhasini Raj, who were also made accused in the chargesheet for abetting the offence under the Prevention of Corruption Act, were also issued summons in the case.

Dhirendra Singh, counsel for two of the accused MPs Chattrapal Singh Lodh and Y G Mahajan moved applications for exemption on their behalf, which were allowed by the court.

Journalist Bahal's counsel Vivek Jain informed the court about the exemption from appearance granted to him by the Delhi High Court, which was taken into record by it.

During proceedings, the court also noted that out of the 11 MPs, many of them had not been served the summons. It was also pointed out to the court that summons were against some of the accused against whom no cognizance has been taken as the investigation was pending against them.

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 cash-for-query scam.