Cash-for-question scam: Charges to be framed against 11 expelled MPs

A special court on Thursday ordered framing of charges against 11 expelled MPs (Members of Parliament) in 2005 cash-for-question scam for allegedly taking money to ask questions in Parliament

Judge Poonam Chaudhary has directed to frame charges against all the 11 MPs and said that charges for alleged offences of criminal conspiracy under IPC and under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act were prima facie made out against these former Parliamentarians.

On next date of hearing is for formally framing charges against them is scheduled on August 28.

The 11 former MPs who are accused in the case are: Chhatarpal Singh Lodha (BJP), Anna Saheb M K Patil (BJP), Manoj Kumar (RJD), Chandra Pratap Singh (BJP), Ram Sewak Singh (Congress), Narender Kumar Kushwaha (BSP), Pradeep Gandhi (BJP), Suresh Chandel (BJP), Lal Chandra Kol (BSP), YG Mahajan (BJP), Raja Rampal (BSP).

According to reports, a sting operation was conducted against these MPs by the two journalists and was telecasted on a private news channel on 12 December, 2005 and came to be known as cash-for-question scam.