Enough Proof To Prosecute Rao In Jmm Case: Cbi

There was enough evidence to prosecute former Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao and former Haryana and Karnataka chief ministers Bhajan Lal and Veerappa Moily, respectively, besides 18 others in the multi-crore Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) MPs bribery case, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) yesterday told a Delhi court.

Beginning arguments on framing of charges against the accused, public prosecutor A K Dutt told special judge Ajit Bharihoke that there was sufficient evidence to charge the accused under various Sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Dutt said that while Rao was keeping a watch on the various aspects of buying the members of Parliament to save the Congress government during the July 1993 no-confidence motion, Lal, Moily and former petroleum minister Satish Sharma were arranging money to be paid as illegal gratification.

 

He said that while Sharma used to get money from business houses like Videocon, Essar, Oswal and Ambani, Moily collected money from two Bangalore-based liquor barons Adikesavulu and M Thimmegowda. Dutt said that Lal arranged the money to be paid to the breakaway group of Janata Dal led by Ajit Singh.