Graft case: CBI quizzes 2 BJP ministers; Party cries foul

Chandigarh, May 9: Two Punjab BJP ministers were today (May 9) questioned by the CBI in connection with a graft case in which Chief Parliamentary Secretary (CPS), Finance, Raj Khurana has been arrested.

Industries and Local Bodies Minister Manoranjan Kalia arrived at the CBI office in Sector 30 here at 11.20 AM and remained closeted for about 75 minutes. He was followed by Technical Education Minister Swarna Ram.

Denying any role in the case, Kalia, who is at number three position in the Parkash Singh Badal-led SAD-BJP alliance government in the state, said that he replied to all CBI queries in the case.

"I have replied to all of them. I have no connection with the case," he said at a press conference at the Punjab BJP headquarters.

Backing its ministers, the BJP accused the CBI of acting at the behest of the Congress and said its two leaders will come out clean.

"We do not trust the CBI. It is playing into the hands of the Congress," Punjab BJP President Ashwani Sharma said at the press conference.

Kalra's lawyer K S Sukhija said that the Minister will not move for anticipatory bail as there is no direct involvement of the BJP leader.

The CBI had issued notice to the two ministers following the arrest of Khurana and Devinder Singh, an official of Registrar, Firms

PTI