Special CBI Court 2005 puts 11 former MPs on Trial in Cash for Question Scam

August 10,2017:

CBI has relied upon CDs/DVDs containing conversation among the accused MPs and others.

Special Court has ordered framing of the graft and the criminal conspiracy charges against the 11 former MPs, who were charge-sheeted in infamous 2005 cash-for-question scam for allegedly taking money to ask the questions in Parliament

Special Judge Poonam Chaudhry expounded that,”Charges for the alleged offences of the criminal conspiracy under the IPC and under provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act were prima facie made out against these former Parliamentarians, who were expelled in wake of scam, and a private person”.

Court has thus directed all the 12 accused to remain present before it on August 28,2017 for formally framing the charges against them.

11 former MPs who are accused in the case are Chhatarpal Singh Lodha (BJP), Anna Saheb M K Patil (BJP), Manoj Kumar (RJD), Chandra Pratap Singh (BJP), Ram Sewak Singh (Congress), Narender Kumar Kushwaha (BSP), Pradeep Gandhi (BJP), Suresh Chandel (BJP), Lal Chandra Kol (BSP), Y G Mahajan (BJP), Raja Rampal (BSP).

Besides them, Court has also ordered framing of the charges against Ravinder Kumar.

Besides the Ex-Parliamentarians, the two journalists of a web portal have been charge-sheeted for allegedly abetting offence under Anti-Graft Law and were summoned by Trial Court but proceedings against them were quashed by Delhi High Court.

Sting operation against then MPs was conducted by two journalists. It was telecast on a private news channel on December 12, 2005 and came to be known as the cash-for-question scam.