Cash-for-Votes Scam: Ahmed Patel Paid Money - Jethmalani
Daijiworld Media Network
New Delhi, Sep 19: A few days after hinting that BJP may have been the source behind the cash-for-votes scam that had rocked parliament in 2008, senior advocate Ram Jethmalani, who is also the counsel for Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh, alleged that it was Congress leader Ahmed Patel who was the 'bribe giver'.
Jethmalani, while arguing for bail to Amar Singh who was arrested for his alleged role in the scam, said that as Patel is from Congress, it was 'obvious' that the money would come from the government which was to be saved.
He further said that the place of transaction was not Amar Singh's house but Le Meridien Hotel.
Jethmalani told Special Judge Sangita Dhingra Sehgal, "The person to pay the bribe was not Amar Singh but obviously Ahmad Patel, an MP and a very influential member of the party whose government was to be saved."
But he also cautioned that he was not recommending conviction of Patel, but only stating that Patel was the 'bribe giver' because he was the main influence who intervened on behalf of his party to get the support of MPs of other parties.
Jethmalani had on September 12 stated that since L K Advani had said his party had conducted the sting operation, BJP might well be the source of money too.
"If the money was waved by the BJP MPs, then the source of the money is likely to be from the BJP," he had said.
Amar Singh was arrested on September 6, and then hospitalised for various ailments. He was given interim bail till September 19 based on his health condition.