CBI files closure report in Ashok Jain bribery case

New Delhi, Aug 26 (UNI) The CBI has filed a closure report in the designated court following Mayor Farhad Suri's refusal to sanction prosecution of Municipal Corporation of Delhi's councillor Ashok Jain who was allegedly caught red-handed while accepting a bribe.

According to complainant Rishi Pal, the Congress councillor had sought the bribe to allow him to rebuild a new house in place of his old demolished house. The CBI said he was caught red-handed on August 12, 2004 while accepting Rs one lakh as bribe.

However, on May 19, Mayor Suri refused the CBI sanction -- needed under Section 19 of the Prevention of Corruption Act -- to go against the accused, saying the CBI action was part of ''political vendetta'' against Jain.

The CBI thereafter filed a closure report in the case.

Special Judge (CBI) Vinod Goyal today said he will hear next week the complainant as well as the CBI counsel in the matter before deciding on the closure report filed by the agency.

The issue had rocked the MCD House earlier this week. The Congress dissociated itself from the decision, provoking the BJP to say that this was a clear case of the ruling party expressing no-confidence in the Mayor.

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