Ethics Committee recommends expulsion of Sakshi Maharaj

New Delhi, Feb 24 (UNI) Disallowing the 'regrets' expressed by Samajwadi Party member Sakshi Maharaj, the Ethics Committee of the Rajya Sabha today recommended his expulsion from the membership of the House while holding the news channel guilty of 'contempt of the House' for witholding information regarding the other member Isam Singh (BSP).

The two members faced the allegations of improper conduct in the implementation of MPLAD scheme by Goa based NGO Dedicated Investigative Guild (DIG) which conducted the trap -- 'Operation Charavyuh' which was telecast on a private news channel on December 19.

The Committee has, however, found that the news channel and the NGO seemed to have committed Contempt of the House by not disclosing the information regarding to its 'contacts' in respect of Sakshi Maharaj. "Disobedience to the Order of the Committee was a contempt and therefore Contempt of the House." It has recommended the complaint of Mr Isam Singh to the Committee of Privileges for further examination and report.

The Committee headed by Dr Karan Singh which was constituted after the news channel telecast the sting operation on December19 in its 32 page report submitted to the House concluded that the conduct of Sakshi Maharaj amounted to violation of code of conduct of members of Rajya Sabha and it was immaterial if the money changed hands or not and whether " any commission was actually paid or not".

The facts and circumstances in the case leave no doubt that the member not only committed gross misdemeanour by his conduct but also compromised the dignity of the House and its members and had acted in a manner which was inconsistent with the standards which the House was entitled to expect of its Members.

"Since the conduct of Dr Sakshiji Maharaj has brought the House and its members into disrepute and has contravened the code of conduct for the Members of R S, the Committee feels that he has forfeited his right to continue as member." More UNI MCN RP BD1507