Probe in cash-for-vote scam widens to Amar; one more arrested

4THLD VOTE
 Probe in cash-for-vote scam widens to Amar; one more arrested
   New Delhi, Jul 20 (PTI) Probe into the cash-for-votes
 scam gathered momentum Wednesday with Delhi Police arresting
 an alleged middleman and was set to question three MPs,
 including Amar Singh, who is accused of sending bribe money to
 win over three BJP lawmakers during 2008 trust vote.
   Suhail Hindustani, who allegedly acted as a liaison
 between Amar Singh and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of
 Parliaments (MPs), was arrested under Prevention of Corruption
 Act after seven hours of grilling by the Crime Branch about
 his role in the sensational case.
   Police had summoned Hindustani for questioning today
 after it arrested Sanjeev Saxena, once considered close to
 Singh, for allegedly delivering cash to three BJP MPs.
   Before appearing for questioning, Hindustani sought to
 drag Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President
 Sonia Gandhi in the cash-for-vote scam by saying he had got
 calls from people close to them.
   "I received calls from Amar Singh and Ahmed Patel
 (Political Secretary to Congress President Sonia Gandhi).
 Those close to Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh) called me and
 even from 10-Janpath (Gandhi's residence)," claimed Hindustani
 to reporters before being questioned. He, however, did not not
 identify all those who allegedly called him.
   The probe by Delhi Police, which was slammed by
 Supreme Court last week for its "callous" approach in this
 case, is set to be expanded with Amar Singh expected to be
 questioned within two-three days, sources said.
   Besides Amar Singh, police would also question
 Samajwadi Party MP Reoti Raman Singh and BJP MP Ashok Argal.
   Questioning of BJP leader L K Advani's former aide
 Sudheendra Kulkarni, who allegedly was behind sting operation
 to trap the bribe-givers, is also likely to take place.
 4THLD VOTE 2 LAST
   Two other former MPs Mahavir Bhagora and Fagan Singh
 Kulaste, who were sought to be bribed, have already been
 questioned. Police is also examining call records of various
 alleged players in the case during that period and seeking
 forensic help.
   Before entering the police complex, Hindustani said he
 would tell police whatever he had told the Parliamentary
 Committee which probed the cash-for-vote scam.
   Asked what he had told the Committee, he alleged that
 Amar Singh told him that he was working on Prime Minister's
 directions along with Ahmed Patel to save the government.
   "People could not believe that Manmohan Singh and
 Congress party could stoop to this level to save the
 government," he said, alleging that the operation was done by
 Amar Singh and some Congress leaders.
   He said police should examine his call records, which
 he claimed would throw light on who all who called him between
 July nine and 22 of 2008.
   "I challenge them. These people tried to bribe me.
 They asked me why are you aligned with BJP? Is your life going
 haywire? Come, align with us and we will give you some big
 posts like Chairmanship. They told me that if you get one
 MP, we will give you Rs 5-10 crore as commission," he claimed.
   Delhi Police has also sought the views and
 directions of Home Ministry with regard to questioning Amar
 Singh and Argal. Meanwhile, Police Commissioner B K Gupta met
 senior Home Ministry officials.
   Rajya Sabha Secretariat said there was no need for its
 permission to question Singh, a member of the Upper House.
   Rajya Sabha Secretary General V K Agnihotri told PTI,
 "no permission for interrogation of Amar Singh has been sought
 from the Chairman of Rajya Sabha (Hamid Ansari). So the
 question of giving permission does not arise." PTI SJY
 KAP