Date:08/12/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/12/08/stories/2003120810181100.htm

National

Case involves graft by an acting CM: Raman Singh

By Aarti Dhar

RAIPUR Dec. 7. The new Chhattisgarh Chief Minister, Raman Singh, today said the Government had handed over the investigation of the bribery charges against the former Chief Minister, Ajit Jogi, to the CBI "since the case involves corruption by an acting Chief Minister."

The Union Law Minister, Arun Jaitley, last night alleged that Mr. Jogi had tried to bribe BJP MLAs to cause a split in the party and prevent Dr. Singh from assuming office.

The case has been registered against Mr. Jogi, his son, Amit and an M.P., P.R. Khunte, who had defected to the Congress last month and who had reportedly tried to organise the deal with another M.P., Balliram Kashyap, and a senior leader, Virender Pandey. Meanwhile, the former Chhattisgarh Assembly Speaker, Rajendra Prasad Shukla, today took exception to his name being dragged into the alleged "deal" struck by Mr. Jogi and the senior BJP leader. Mr. Jogi had reportedly said that dividing the party and getting recognition for the breakaway group would not be difficult because the Speaker was from the Congress until his successor was appointed. Talking to reporters at the swearing-in ceremony, Mr. Shukla said the Speaker did not owe allegiance to any political party.

All television channels, barring Doordarshan, were blacked out in the city from 3 a.m. today. It is alleged that Akash Channel had deliberately switched off systems after the channels started showing Mr. Jaitley's press conference. Akash Channel is allegedly controlled by Amit Jogi. As a result, the citizens could not see the swearing-in ceremony live.