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CBI defends conviction of Rao, Buta Singh in JMM case
The CBI on Tuesday defended in the Delhi high court the conviction of former prime minister P V Narasimha Rao and his Cabinet colleague Buta Singh in the JMM MPs bribery case, saying questioning of the approver`s testimony by them in appeal now holds no ground.
The CBI on Tuesday defended in the Delhi high court the conviction of former prime minister P V Narasimha Rao and his Cabinet colleague Buta Singh in the JMM MPs bribery case, saying questioning of the approver's testimony by them in appeal now holds no ground.
Arguing on behalf of the CBI on appeals filed by Rao and Singh challenging the special court order, additional solicitor general (ASG) K K Sud said "counsel for the accused had enough opportunity in the trial court to cross examine approver Shailendra Mahato whose testimony they are questioning now, and he has stood the test of the cross-examination."
The trial court had sentenced Rao and Singh to three-year jail terms on the basis of former JMM MP Mahto's statement that he and three of his party colleagues -- Suraj Mandal, Simon Marandi and Shibu Soren -- were paid Rs 50 lakh each for voting in favour of Rao government during the July 28, 1993 no-confidence motion.
Sud said the money paid to them within two-three days of the defeat of the motion, which the CBI had seized after it was found deposited in a bank here, "is sufficient material evidence to corroborate the statment of Mahto as well as the prosecution case.
"The court has to see his statement in the light of the entire episode as how Rao's minority government was desperate to survive in office and not getting any support from any political party," Sud said.
"Negotiations between Congress leaders and MPs approached by them for support centred around the payment of money and Mahto has substantiated this," he said.
Bureau Report
The trial court had sentenced Rao and Singh to three-year jail terms on the basis of former JMM MP Mahto's statement that he and three of his party colleagues -- Suraj Mandal, Simon Marandi and Shibu Soren -- were paid Rs 50 lakh each for voting in favour of Rao government during the July 28, 1993 no-confidence motion.
Sud said the money paid to them within two-three days of the defeat of the motion, which the CBI had seized after it was found deposited in a bank here, "is sufficient material evidence to corroborate the statment of Mahto as well as the prosecution case.
"The court has to see his statement in the light of the entire episode as how Rao's minority government was desperate to survive in office and not getting any support from any political party," Sud said.
"Negotiations between Congress leaders and MPs approached by them for support centred around the payment of money and Mahto has substantiated this," he said.
Bureau Report