New Zealand Sikh MP gets clean chit in immigration scam

Wellington (New Zealand), Oct.16 (ANI) New Zealand Police have apparently cleared Indian-origin National MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi of wrongdoing in an alleged immigration scam without interviewing a key accuser who has now returned to India.

The accuser, Darshan Singh Saran, provided a sworn statement that threats and pressure from influential figures in India silenced a key complainant in the case against Bakshi, the New Zealand Herald reports.

Friends, however,said Darshan Singh Saran had left New Zealand unexpectedly without being interviewed by police.

Counties-Manukau police yesterday indicated a statement would be released saying Bakshi was to be cleared - but nothing was sent out.

A spokeswoman said investigations were finished and had been checked out by the legal team.

Police did not respond to subsequent Herald calls.

They had been looking at the case for three months, after Immigration NZ passed on new information, including Darshan Singh Saran's statement.

Darshan Singh Saran's statement was read out under parliamentary privilege by Labour MP Pete Hodgson in August.(ANI)