Court reserves order in cash-for-query scam

NEW DELHI - The Delhi High Court Friday reserved its order in the cash-for-query scam involving members of parliament. Two reporters, who conducted the sting operation, had asked the high court to quash the proceedings launched against them by the police.

They alleged that the police were shielding the corrupt MPs and framing them in the case instead.

Eleven MPs were caught on camera accepting bribes for raising and tabling questions in parliament December 2006 after a sting operation was conducted by a media channel, Cobra Post, through its reporters Anirudh Bahal and Suhasini Raj.

The inquiry committee of both houses of parliament had also recommended expulsion of the 11 MPs - 10 from the Lok Sabha and one from the Rajya Sabha.

The police, on the recommendations of the parliamentary committee, which suggested an enquiry into the role of a middleman in the sting operation, had filed an FIR against Anirudh Bahal, Suhasini Raj and the TV channel Aaj Tak, which aired the sting operation.

The FIR was filed under sections 12 and 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act and section 120 B, dealing with conspiracy, of the Indian Penal Code.

Justice S.N. Dhingra questioned Additional Public Prosecutor O.P. Saxena about the police initiating proceedings against those who worked to highlight the corrupt means of functioning of the members of parliament. Justice Dhingra said the police should have, in fact, given protection to the scribes and made them the witnesses in the case.

P.K. Dubey, counsel for the petitioners, argued before the court that the sting operation was carried out in the national interest and there was no personal benefit involved.

“Our effort was also appreciated by both houses of parliament. Instead of making us a witness in the case, police have made us an accused,” Dubey added.