New Delhi, Nov 16: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee tonight said a probe was underway into the alleged acceptance of bribe by Union Minister Dilip Singh Judeo and action would be taken if he was found guilty. "It is a policy of my government to carry out open probe into all charges of corruption and an inquiry is already being conducted," he told reporters here on return from a three-nation tour when asked about allegations of bribery against Judeo.

Vajpayee said that facts were being collected and action would be taken if Judeo was found guilty. "If found guilty, he has to go," he added.

The Prime Minister, however, remained non-committal on a probe by CBI.

To a question whether Judeo should step down as former BJP president Bangaru Laxman had done the same after the Tehelka expose, he said such a step would be contemplated only after the inquiry was over.

"The media should not pre-judge the issue", he said, adding that he did not agree that the minister should step down even before the probe was over. Asked whether the alleged bribery scam would affect the result of forthcoming assembly elections in Chhattisgarh, Vajpayee said, "We will know about it later".

He said that BJP president M Venkaiah Naidu was already looking into the issue and it would be examined from all angles.

To a question whether he would meet Judeo, Vajpayee said he would do so if the need arose.

The Prime Minister was received at the IGI airport by Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani, several union ministers, the three service chiefs and top officials.
Bureau Report