New Delhi:
A defiant Buta Singh on Saturday refused to resign from his post in the wake of the bribery scandal in which his son Sarobjit was arrested by the CBI, claiming that he could have "confessed under pressure".
"Resign? Why should I resign?" Singh shot back at reporters on being asked whether he will step down as Chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes after his son was arrested on the charge of demanding a bribe of Rs one crore from a Nashik-based contractor for closing a case against him.
"I am chairperson of a constitutional forum. And I am capable, so why should I resign?" he said.
When told that his son had confessed to taking the bribe amount and said that Buta Singh knew about the transaction, the former minister said, "He (Sarobjit) must have naturally made it (confession) under pressure."
CBI raids Sarabjot Singh's houseButa Singh's son Sarabjot Singh or Sweety has been booked under the Arms Act after three revolvers and several rounds of ammunition were recovered by CBI from his house after a raid. Sweety Singh, apparently did not possess a license for one of the revolvers. Sweety Singh was arrested on Thursday night after he allegedly demanded a Rs 1 crore bribe from a Nashik-based contractor Ramrao Patil.
Meanwhile, Buta Singh himself will be questioned by the CBI in connection with the same bribery case on Saturday. Another accused in the case has indicted the former union minister saying he was present at a meeting where the bribe was discussed
In fact Ramrao Patil the man who complained to the CBI which led them to Buta's son has also claimed that Sweety Singh did everything at the behest of his father.
Sarabjot Singh's defense has changed since Friday. Now he has told CBI that his father was aware of his dealing with Ramarao Patil and also knew that he had met Patil and that Buta Singh had in fact written to the Nashik commissioner of police complaining that the builder had tried to bribe his son .
The key players in this case:Buta Singh, Chairman of the SC/ST Commission.
His son, Sarabjot or Sweety Singh, who is accused of acting on the behest of his father.
Ramrao Patil, a contractor from whom Buta Singh and Sweety Singh were allegedly demanding Rs 3 crores as a bribe.
Anup Beghe, a congress worker who was arrested by the CBI with the first installment of the bribe money at Mumbai Central station on July 28. He was carrying this money allegedly on behalf of Sweety Singh.