Cash-for-votes scam: Plea to book Amar Singh on kidnapping charges dismissed

A plea by a key prosecution witness of the 2008 cash-for-vote scam to lodge an FIR against Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh and two others for allegedly kidnapping him, was Monday dismissed by a Delhi court.

"I do not find appropriate ground for giving direction to the police for registration of a fresh FIR. The application is declined," Metropolitan Magistrate Sudesh Kumar said, dismissing prosecution witness Hashmat Ali's plea for booking Singh and his two aides for allegedly kidnapping him shortly before his deposition before a lawmakers' panel.

The court said an FIR has already been registered in the cash-for-vote case and even the charge sheet has been filed.

The court's order came on the plea of Hashmat Ali, who had alleged that Amar Singh's secretary Tarun Goel and his aide Ramesh Kumar had kidnapped him from Khan Market here on September 25, 2008, the day he was to depose before a parliamentary inquiry committee, probing the case.

The court, however, provided Ali an opportunity to lead further evidence, if any, in support of his allegations.

Ali had earlier told the court that Delhi police was adopting "double standards" as, he said, police was relying on his statement in the cash-for-vote case, but disbelieving his complaint that he was kidnapped.

Ali had claimed he was one of the eye-witnesses to the payments made to the BJP MPs in July 2008 allegedly by Singh.

His counsel had said police did not try to trace Ali's mobile phone, which was snatched by Singh and even there was no answer as to how Ali's car was recovered from the parking of Khan market.

The police, in its status report to the court had said Ali's complaint should be dismissed as it has no merits.