Cops: Kulkarni ‘mastermind’
Mr Sudheendra Kulkarni, former aide of senior BJP leader L.K. Advani, allegedly “masterminded” the conspiracy to bribe three BJP MPs ahead of the voting on confidence motion in the Lok Sabha.
The Delhi police, in its chargesheet, has alleged that Mr Kulkarni turned towards Samajwadi Party leaders in a bid to influence the 2008 trust vote of UPA-I government after he failed to make inroads in the Congress camp. Mr Kulkarni allegedly “directed” co-accused Suhail Hindustani to divert his efforts towards Samajwadi Party leaders who met the BJP MPs ahead of the voting, it said.
Chargesheeted for his role in the scam, Mr Kulkarni made his maiden appearance in the court after failing to do so earlier on September 6 and September 19 on the ground that he was in the US for his daughter’s admission.
Before appearing in the court, Mr Kulkarni told reporters, “The charge against me is false and politically motivated. My role in the entire matter was that of a whistleblower. Along with my associates, three BJP MPs and Suhail Hindustani, I attempted to expose the purchase of MPs for securing victory in the confidence vote that the then government was seeking in Lok Sabha in July 2008. I am ready to go to jail if exposing corruption is a crime.”
On July 22, 2008 the then BJP MPs, Mr Ashok Argal, Mr Kulaste and Mr Bhagora, displayed wads of notes to the tune of `1 crore in the Lok Sabha alleging that they had been offered bribe to save the government after the Left parties withdrew support on the nuclear deal.
On court’s query as to why he did not inform the law enforcement agencies immediately after the BJP MPs were approached for their votes in lieu of bribe to influence outcome of the confidence vote, the lawyer said, “I (Kulkarni) did not inform because I wanted to expose it in the Lok Sabha.”
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