Cash for votes: Whistleblowers are not beneficiaries, says Kulkarni

A day after he was let out from Tihar jail, Sudheendra  Kulkarni, the key accused in the cash-for-votes scam and former BJP advisor claimed that there was no political will to dig out the truth behind the scandal.

He added that instead of punishing whistle blowers, the beneficieries of the 2008 cash-for-votes scandal should be exposed. The former-Advani aide stated, “You cannot punish the whistleblowers inside jail and keep culprits scot free.” Kulkarni also said the truth has come out and more truth is yet to come out.

The Delhi High Court  on Wednesday granted bail to Kulkarni, former BJP MPs Faggan Singh Kulaste and Mahabir Singh Bhagora, Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh’s former aide Sanjeev Saxena and alleged political activist Suhail Hindustani. Anticipatory bail was given to sitting BJP MP Ashok Argal, also accused in the case.

Kukarni thanked Avani and the BJP for supporting him and said the BJP’s stand has been vindicated.“Stand of all the people who stood by exposing this shameful act has been vindicated,” Kulkarni told CNN-IBN.

The BJP has alleged that individuals claiming to be from the Congress party paid BJP MPs crores of rupees to abstain from voting before a trust vote in parliament on 22 July 2008. Sudheendra Kulkarni  is accused of having masterminded the scam. On the day of crucial vote, MPs walked into the parliament with wads of notes. Kulkarni has claimed that this was part of a sting operation to expose the UPA government.

“One thing has been established is that money was given, nobody can dispute it. Those who took money, their intention was to expose. But those who gave money, their intention was to buy MPs to ensure the then government which had fallen into minority survived,” Kulkarni told a news channel.

The Delhi Police has claimed that the money was allegedly paid to the BJP MPs by former Samajwadi Party MP Amar Singh. Singh was arrested on charges of criminal conspiracy in the case but was granted bail on medical grounds. Singh has denied all charges against him.

The BJP has protested against the arrest of Kulkarni and the BJP MPs, saying whistleblowers were being targeted by the government for exposing the UPA.

Watch video:Cash-for-votes truth yet to come out: Kulkarni

Agencies