Bhushan controversy deepens, police probe, SC case on

The confrontation between the father-son lawyer and reformist duo, Shanti and Prashant Bhushan, and their peers deepened today.

A group of lawyers filed a Special Leave Petition not just against the involvement of civil society in the drafting of the Lok Pal bill but also against the involvement of the Bhushans in the case. The Supreme Court admitted the SLP today for a hearing.

On the issue of whether or not a CD voice recording of Shanti Bhushan making controversial remarks was authetntic, former Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh at a press conference dared Shanti Bhushan to give his voice sample. He said if the Bhushans had evidence of the CD being doctored, they should provide it. He said four or five versions of the CD were in existence. Amar Singh today handed over four copies of the audio CD to Delhi Police at the Indraprastha police station. Speaking to reporters outside the police station,he said many members on the team of Anna Hazare were tainted.

“I have been assured by the Delhi Police that there would be a free, fair and thorough probe. The CD will be examined in at least two different labs for separate reports,” home minister P Chidambaram told reporters.

He added that this was a “season of allegations” and he was glad there was a growing recognition that reputation was also important.

Bhushan’s son, Prashant, had yesterday claimed in a press conference that the CD, purportedly containing conversations between Bhushan and Samajwadi party head Mulayam Singh Yadav, and with Amar Singh, was fabricated to tarnish the reputation of civil society representatives in the joint drafting committee. “The whole thing is a cut and paste job,” he had said.