Madhya Pradesh Assembly recruitment scam: Will surrender before court on Saturday, says Digvijay Singh

Pic Courtesy: ANI

Bhopal: Congress leader Digvijay Singh said on Saturday that he will surrender before the court tomorrow in connection with an alleged recruitment scam at Assembly Secretariat here which took place when he was chief minister of Madhya Pradesh.

Speaking to news agency ANI, Singh said, "Will surrender before Court tomorrow, MP police can arrest me if they want."

The development comes hours after a local court here issued a non- bailable arrest warrant against Singh after he failed to appear before the apex court today.

Special Sessions Judge Kashinath Singh 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 charge sheet was filed today.

The Rajya Sabha member was summoned by prosecuting agency - 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 fixed March 14 for hearing.

Ahead of filing the charge sheet 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.

According to media reports, Digvijaya Singh and former state Assembly Speaker Sriniwas Tiwari are accused of misusing their official position and power to fraudulently appoint 17 people in the Assembly Secretariat between 1993 and 2003, when Singh was the CM.

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

(With Agency inputs)