Author: Express News Service
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: August 4, 2008
URL: http://www.indianexpress.com/story/344336.html
The BJP upped the ante in "Cash-in-House
issue" on Sunday by releasing "new evidence" in a 17-page letter
written to the chairman of the parliamentary committee probing the "scam".
Claiming that "Indian democracy and its
fairness is now on trial", BJP general secretary Arun Jaitley released
the letter, asking the parliamentary panel to probe the role of Sanjeev Saxena
to "get to the roots of the controversy". "The transcript of
the conversation as recorded in the room (by the cameras fitted by a CNN-IBN
team) conclusively establishes that he came as a representative of Singh to
deliver the money," says the letter.
"We have seen, along with the subversion
of Parliament, subversion of a section of the media. Those who had taken the
responsibility of bringing out the truth have failed to do so. In the face
of this, a political party had to conduct this investigation," claimed
Jaitley.
The letter claims the mobile phone (9811721499)
being used by Saxena was registered in the name of HFCL, a "corporate
group known to be close to Amar Singh". The letter claims the phone was
being used to alert reporters of Amar Singh's press conferences. Jaitley countered
Singh's claim that Saxena did not work for him by reading out an SMS sent
from the phone inviting mediapersons for a press conference on July 20. The
letter also claims the Gypsy used by Saxena to come to Argal's residence was
registered in the name of a firm belonging to Singh's family.
The letter claims Saxena used his mobile to
call up Singh's landline (24616827) in Lodi Estate. "During the period
when Saxena was at the residence of Argal, the telephone records show repeated
calls to the phone installed at Singh's residence and the video recording
shows that he dials the number repeatedly and gets the MPs to speak to Singh.
That he is calling up the landline number of Singh is recorded on the video
CDs," says the letter. The letter also gives the details of the telephone
service provider and the "changing cell tower jurisdictions" to
argue that he had gone to the BJP
MP's house at Ferozshah Road from Singh's
Lodi Estate residence.
Said Jaitley: "These are direct evidences
which can be corroborated by the statements of the MPs and members of the
CNN-IBN team."
"The most important aspect is the third
phase when Sanjeev Saxena and another person reach the Ferozshah Road residence
of Argal," said Jaitley. "After delivering the cash, Saxena repeatedly
calls Amar Singh from his mobile to facilitate a conversation of the MPs with
him ... when the phone gets disconnected several times, Saxena dials on the
landline of Amar Singh," he added. Jaitley also lambasted the channel
which conducted the sting operation but did not telecast it claiming the sting
was inconclusive.
The letter was signed by Ashok Argal and Faggan
Singh Kulaste. The third MP, Mahavir Bhagore, has been admitted in an Ahmedabad
hospital for a bypass surgery.
Jaitley said the "fake" sting operation,
CDs of which were released by Uma Bharati, had many "gaps" and was
a "hit-wicket". "The fact is that Sanjeev Saxena (who was reportedly
untraceable after July 22), was available to Amar Singh till July 25 for play-acting
in a fake CD," he alleged.
"We are committed to take this case to
its logical conclusion," said Jaitley. The 17 pages are replete with
transcripts of conversations of the lead players in the sting operation, suggesting
that the party had a copy of the CD. The BJP, however, refused to answer any
question on this.
