New Delhi: A Canadian journalist, who
reported on bribery charges leveled against Union Minister
Praful Patel, on Friday tweeted that there was no evidence to show
that he took bribe.
In a series of tweets through the day, `The Globe and
Mail` scribe, Stephanie Nolen, made it clear that she had
written only on allegations made against Patel by an Indian-
born Canadian citizen, Nazir Karigar who is being prosecuted
in Canada on charges of paying off Patel in a case in which a
former Mumbai police chief also figures.
"Praful Patel isn`t accused of taking the bribe.
Canadian accused of saying he was going to pay it. Critical
difference," she said in one tweet.
In another posting on the micro blogging site, she said "I
object to people misquoting our story; regardless of
what you think of Patel, evidence does not show he took
bribe".
"No, a Canadian is accused of saying he bribed Praful
Patel. Critical difference. Please read our story", read the
third.
The Canadian newspaper report had said that Karigar had
claimed he had paid bribe to Patel in 2007 in an unsuccessful
attempt to win a USD 100 million Air India contract for a
computerized passenger face recognition biometrics system. The
airline had ultimately abandoned the plans for such a system.
Patel, who has rubbished the charges, today got support
from Congress and his party NCP which maintained that it was
wrong to indict anybody until some material is found.
Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh also ruled out any
investigation into the allegations.
PTI
