New Delhi:
Two days after the Supreme Court slammed it for a shoddy probe into the cash-for-votes scam, the Delhi Police today made its first arrest in the case, taking into custody Sanjeev Saxena, believed to be an aide of former Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Amar Singh, for allegedly trying to bribe BJP MPs during the UPA government's trust vote in 2008.
Police sources said Saxena was placed under arrest this afternoon following his questioning in connection with the probe into the incident which came to light on July 22, 2008 when BJP MPs waved wads of currency notes in the Lok Sabha alleging that they had been offered a bribe to save the government.
Saxena has been charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act, police said.
The BJP had alleged that Saxena was Amar Singh's aide and he was allegedly caught on camera giving money to the BJP MPs. They also alleged that it was Saxena who called Amar Singh from his mobile phone and got the three MPs to talk to him in order to fix a deal. Amar Singh had denied any role and had distanced himself from Saxena.
"He (Saxena) was arrested from Delhi by Crime Branch team. There was evidence against him in this case. He will be produced before court tomorrow," a top police official said.
The allegation was levelled by then BJP MPs Ashok Argal, Faggan Singh Kulaste and Mahavir Bhagora. The MPs alleged that it was Saxena who had delivered Rs 1 crore in cash to them at the 4, Ferozeshah Road residence of Ashok Argal on July 22, 2008, hours before the vote of confidence in Lok Sabha.
The police action came close on the heels of the Supreme Court coming down heavily on Delhi Police for its "callous approach" in probing the 2008 'cash-for-vote scam' and asking why it has not taken action so far against those involved in the case.
In strong words, the court had said, "We are not happy at all with the probe done by the Delhi Police. This is not the way to probe the offence of such serious nature."
A 7-member parliamentary panel had probed the allegations and had asked the Delhi Police to investigate the role of Saxena, besides that of Sudheendra Kulkarni, a former aide of BJP leader L K Advani, and Suhail Hindustani in the case.
According to BJP, Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Reoti Raman Singh allegedly met BJP MPs Argal, Kulaste and Bhagora at Argal's residence where the transaction was discussed.
This was purportedly recorded through hidden cameras by a television channel which has not telecast the tape on the ground that its investigations were not complete.
These MPs travelled to 27, Lodi Estate on July 22, the day of the voting. The car which took the MPs to the residence of Singh was followed by the channel and its movements allegedly recorded.
The MPs alleged that the tape had Saxena repeatedly calling a number.
The apex court had expressed concern that no progress has been made by the police in the case. "Investigation has been done with callousness on the complaint filed by Lok Sabha Secretary," it said.
The bench said it was "fully dis-satisfied" with the status report filed by the police and pulled it up for not carrying out custodial interrogation.
The court was hearing a petition filed by former Chief Election Commissioner J M Lyngdoh seeking directions to the government to take action against politicians involved in the scam.