'08 cashscam: police reject plea

The case involves former SP leader Amar Singh and three BJP MPs

The Delhi Police today rejected the plea of some of the accused in the 2008 cash-for-vote scam case, involving former Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh and three BJP MPs, that it was a whistleblowing operation or a sting.

"In so far as the plea of whistleblowing operation is concerned, it is submitted that this plea was not even accepted by the Parliamentary inquiry committee and this plea cannot be dealt with at this stage," the prosecution said in its written submission filed by Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran.

The written submissions on the framing of charges were filed in the court of Special Judge Narottam Kaushal.

The BJP sitting MPs Ashok Argal and Faggan Singh Kulaste and former MP Mahabir Singh Bhagora had earlier claimed that it was a sting operation to highlight horsetrading in Parliament ahead of the July 22, 2008 trust vote.

To this, the prosecution has said in the written submissions that "it has been the case of one set of accused that what was conducted was in fact a sting operation/ whistle-blowing operation whereas Amar Singh has denied any meeting with the MPs who had agreed to take part in the sting operation.