Bharti terms CBI judge's observation 'erroneous'

"It was erroneous on the part of the judge to call it tampering of evidence," Bharti said

Delhi Law Minister Somnath Bharti Tuesday termed as "erroneous" the CBI court's judgment accusing him of tampering with evidence in a case he was handling last year.

"It was erroneous on the part of the judge to call it tampering of evidence," Bharti told media persons here, adding that he was instead "strengthening evidence" for the case.

"The case pertains to a Rs.116 crore scam in the State Bank of Mysore. I also have the audio clip, which I was giving as an evidence. As I was in the process of strengthening the evidence, I have been accused of tampering," he said.

"The report indicting me for tampering with evidence is an absolute lie and I don't understand what was the urgency for him (the reporter) to go ahead without cross verifying the facts with me as this news pertains to August 2013," he added.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also defended the minister, saying no tampering of the evidence was done.

According to the media report, an order was passed by then CBI Special Judge Poonam A. Bamba in which she pulled up Bharti and his client Pawan Kumar - facing prosecution on corruption charges - after the CBI accused them of influencing a prosecution witness by speaking to him on phone and discussing the case.