No relief to Bangaru Laxman says HC

The Delhi High Court today refused to quash criminal proceedings against former BJP President Bangaru Laxman who was purportedly caught on camera accepting money from fictitious arms dealers in the infamous Tehelka expose.

The Delhi High Court today refused to quash criminal proceedings against former BJP President Bangaru Laxman who was purportedly caught on camera accepting money from fictitious arms dealers in the infamous Tehelka expose.

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Justice S N Dhingra declined to interfere in the trial court proceedings which will continue against Bangaru.

Bangaru is facing charges of various offences under the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act for allegedly accepting bribe from the fictitious arms dealers in a sting operation.

CBI had filed a case against Bangaru on December 6, 2004 and later on it filed chargesheet against him under section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC and sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The CBI had alleged that Bangaru fudged BJP account books to accommodate Rs 1 lakh received from the fictitious firm, a charge refuted by the politician.

The case was handed over to CBI after the Government refused to extend the term of Justice Phukan Commission and handed over the probe to CBI, more than three years after the web portal had made an expose on March 13, 2001 when the BJP-led NDA government was in power.

A political storm was set off when the Tehelka tapes were made public leading to the resignation of Bangaru and then Defence Minister George Fernandes who was, however, reinducted later.