SP MLA lodges complaint with police, EC on bribery episode

Bhopal, Mar 19 (UNI) Samajwadi Party (SP) legislator Kishor Samrite today lodged a complaint with the Election Commission in connection with being offered Rs 10 lakh bribe to vote in favour Congress-supported independent candidate Vivek Tankha for the biennial election to the Rajya Sabha.

After making the sensational revelation here last night, Mr Samrite had lodged a complaint with police. A senior police official said Rs 10 lakh had been seized and the matter had been taken for investigation. However, it was not disclosed who would conduct the inquiry and when the process would begin.

In his complaint to police, Mr Samrite claimed that he had a discussion with Congress MLA Rajendra Singh over telephone. Later, former minister N Prajapati reached his residence at the MLA rest house with the money. The complaint mentioned the name of Opposition Leader Jamuna Devi and Mr Tankha.

In his complaint the EC, Mr Samrite alleged that he was offered Rs 25 lakh bribe to vote in favour of Mr Tankha. He informed about the matter to the Inspector General of Police (CBI) but was denied help.

So, he later informed Bhopal Superintendent of Police Jaideep Prasad and the media. He demanded inquiry into the matter so that horse-trading in politics could be stopped.

Meanwhile, Mr Tankha said he would lodge a complaint with the EC in this regard. Mr Samrite had a criminal background and harboured ill-feeling towards him because he did not withdraw a case registered against him when he was state Advocate General in 2003.

He alleged that the bribery episode was politically motivated and aimed at affecting his poll prospects. He would not leave a stone unturned to bring out truth in the matter.

UNI SD-PS JT HT1820