Sting CD case: Uttarakhand CM Harish Rawat appears before CBI

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Tuesday appeared before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with a sting operation probe in which he was allegedly shown offering bribe to rebel Congress MLAs to save his government.

"As a law abiding citizen I will appear before CBI so that people won't get an impression that I am trying to avoid the agency," Rawat told ANI before reaching CBI headquarters.

The CBI had last week rejected the state government's notification withdrawing the nod for probing the case which was given during President's Rule.

The Uttarakhand High Court also did not stay the CBI probe as requested by Rawat.

CBI had said the notification was rejected after taking legal opinion, which said there was no ground for its withdrawal and it was "not legally tenable".

Earlier on May 20, the Congress government in Uttarakhand decided to constitute a judicial committee to look into various issues, including incidents unfolding after March 17-18 such as horse trading, misuse of agencies and sting operation among others.

Justifying the Cabinet's decision, Rawat then said that it was in the wider interest of the state that this matter is handed over to a judicial commission.

The video shows Rawat indulging in horse trading a day before President's rule was imposed in Uttarakhand on March 27.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had alleged that the sting was proof of unfair means used by the Rawat regime to stay in power. Rawat has maintained his innocence in the matter and termed the entire episode as a 'conspiracy' to tarnish his image.