Kulkarni, two BJP former MPs walk out of Tihar

Sudheendra Kulkarni, ex-advisor to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and two Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) former MPs, who were accused in the 2008 cash-for-votes scam, walked out of Tihar jail today.

Sudheendra Kulkarni, ex-advisor to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and two Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) former MPs, who were accused in the 2008 cash-for-votes scam, walked out of Tihar jail Thursday.

Kulkarni and former MPs Faggan Singh Kulaste and Mahabir Singh Bhagora were granted bail by the Delhi high court Wednesday on the grounds that there was no evidence to support their involvement in the illegal gratification that rocked parliament ahead of a trust vote.

As the three came out of the high-security jail, a large number of BJP supporters chanted slogans and garlanded them. Many danced in celebration as drums were beaten.

On July 22, 2008, MP Ashok Argal, Kulaste and Bhagora waved wads of currency notes in the Lok Sabha just hours ahead of a trust vote, alleging they were given the money to vote in favour of the Manmohan Singh government. Kulkarni has been charged as co-conspirator and master-minding the entire event along with former Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh, who had earlier been granted bail.

"I am fighting for the party and truth and there is no personal agenda," he said.