Why was recently sworn in MoS Faggan Singh Kulaste in the news back in 2008

One of PM Modi's recently sworn in Cabinet colleagues was involved in a scandal back in 2008

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Back in 2008, Kulaste, who represents the Mandla constituency of Madhya Pradesh, had been a part of the cash-for-vote scandal.

What was the scandal all about

The cash-for-vote scandal pertains to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs displaying wads of currency notes during the July 22, 2008, trust vote in the Lok Sabha, alleging attempts to bribe them, after the Left Front withdrew its support to the UPA-I government on the issue of the Indo-US civil nuclear deal.

The scandal involved former Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh, L K Advani's ex-aide Sudheendra Kulkarni and three BJP leaders, including Kulaste.

During the vote of confidence in Parliament, the three BJP leaders – Ashok Argal, Kulaste, Mahabir Singh Bhagora – had brought Rs 3 crore allegedly received by them to vote in the government’s favour.

According to a BBC report from 2011, Kulkarni was the alleged "mastermind" of the operation. The report added that Kulkarni had said it was to expose corruption in the government. 

The then Speaker, Somnath Chatterjee, had called in Delhi's police chief to investigate the claims.

Amar Singh, for his part, was allegedly the key accused as the person who had tried to bride the BJP leaders in favour of the UPA government. 

What was the conclusion

While a case proceeded against Singh and the BJP leaders in the Delhi High Court, in late 2013, both Singh and the group of BJP leaders were let off by the court. 

According to a NDTV report from November 2013, the court accepted the claims of the BJP leaders that they had acted as whistle-blowers, while it said that the allegations against Singh did not go "beyond the realm of suspicion".