A Delhi court has framed graft charges against 11 former parliamentarians in the cash-for-query scam
A Delhi court today framed graft and criminal conspiracy charges against 11 former parliamentarians in the infamous 2005 cash-for-query scam.
Special Judge Kiran Bansal put the 11 former lawmakers and an individual on trial, which will commence from January 12.
The former lawmakers accused in the case are Y G Mahajan (BJP), Chhatarpal Singh Lodha (BJP), Anna Saheb M K Patil (BJP), Manoj Kumar (RJD), Chandra Pratap Singh (BJP), Ram Sewak Singh (Congress), Narender Kumar Kushwaha (BSP), Pradeep Gandhi (BJP), Suresh Chandel (BJP), Lal Chandra Kol (BSP) and Raja Rampal (BSP).
A sting operation against the then lawmakers was conducted by two journalists which was telecast on a private news channel on December 12, 2005.
It came to be known as the cash-for-query scam.
The prosecution had relied upon CDs/DVDs containing conversations among the accused and others. The court also framed charges against Mr Rampal's then PA, Ravinder Kumar, special public prosecutor Atul Shrivastava said.
The proceedings against one of an accused, Vijay Phogat, have been abated as he has passed away. Mr Phogat was alleged to be a middleman.