MP recruitment scam: Digvijay Singh granted bail

Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh appeared before Bhopal court in connection with Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha secretariat recruitment.

Bhopal: Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh was on Saturday granted bail by a court here in connection with an alleged recruitment scam at Assembly Secretariat here which took place when he was Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh.​

Singh appeared before the Special District and Sessions Judge Kashinath Singh.

He was accompanied by MP Congress president Arun Yadav, former Union Minister Suresh Pachouri and his lawyer Vivek Tankha at around 11.30 am.

Special District and Sessions Judge​ Kashinath Singh had on Friday issued the warrant after the Congress general secretary, an accused in the alleged scam, did not turn up in the court where a 169-page supplementary chargesheet was filed yesterday.

Talking to news agency ANI, Singh had on Friday announced that he would surrender before the court on Saturday. “The Madhya Pradesh Police can arrest me if they want,” added Singh.

Earlier today, the Congress leader tweeted:

BJP wakes up after 20 years to file a case against me where there is no charge of corruption. Bound to happen after I took up VYAPAM scam.

— digvijaya singh (@digvijaya_28) February 27, 2016

Makes my resolve stronger to fight these forces of Fascism.

— digvijaya singh (@digvijaya_28) February 27, 2016

The Rajya Sabha member was summoned by prosecuting agency – the MP Police - to attend the court proceedings.

The seven other accused, including KK Kaushal and AK Pyasi - who appeared in the court - were granted bail after they furnished a personal security bond of Rs 30,000 each. Kaushal and Pyasi were employees of the Secretariat.

The Court has fixed March 14 for hearing.

Ahead of filing the chargesheet last year, police had grilled the veteran Congressman for five hours in connection with the scam.

The scam pertains to alleged irregularities in recruitment in MP Assembly Secretariat here between 1993 and 2003 when Singh was Chief Minister.

Last year, Singh had reportedly told investigators that all recruitments in the Secretariat during his tenure were done with the approval of State Cabinet and as per prescribed rules.

The accused have been charged with forgery, cheating, conspiracy and misuse of office as well as offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

(With PTI inputs)