New Delhi: 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.
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.
PTI
