Cash-for-votes: BJP tries to make light of embarrassment caused by Jethmalani

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BJP today sought to make light of the embarrassment caused by its Rajya Sabha member Ram Jethmalani in the cash-for-vote case, saying he is acting in his capacity as a lawyer and it would not like to comment as the matter is sub-judice.

Appearing as the counsel for former SP leader Amar Singh in the cash-for-vote case, Jethmalani today took the stand that since the BJP had organised the sting operation, it had arranged for the cash offered to its MPs.

Talking to reporters outside the court, Jethmalani said: "There are no allegations in the charge sheet that he (Amar Singh) has given the money.... Advani has said that he arranged for the sting operation. So obviously somebody from the BJP must have arranged for the money who wanted the sting operation to take place."

He insisted that Amar Singh had nothing to do with arranging the money.

When asked about Jethmalani's accusations, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said: "This is the plea of an accused and he is only a lawyer. Whatever plea a lawyer takes, no matter how false they may be, we normally do not comment on them as the matter is pending in court."

This is not the first time Jethmalani has put his party BJP in a spot over his comments and the clients he is representing in court.

While the BJP vociferously attacked the UPA government over the 2G spectrum allocation scam, Jethmalani took up the case of DMK MP Kanimozhi who is in judicial custody in the case.