Cash-for-votes: LK Advani aide Sudheendra Kulkarni appears before court

Senior BJP leader LK Advani's former aide Sudheendra Kulkarni Monday appeared before a Delhi court in response to its summons for his alleged role in the 2008 cash-for-vote scam.

Kulkarni appeared before Special Judge Sangita Dhingra Sehgal after repeatedly failing to do so on September 6 and September 19 on the ground that he was in the US.

The court had on September 19 warned his counsel that his failure to appear on the next date would force it to issue arrest warrant against him.

Talking to the media persons before making his appearance in court, Kulkarni said he was a whistle blower and his attempt was to expose corruption.

"The charge against me is false and politically motivated. My role in the entire matter was that of a whistle blower. Along with my associates, 3 BJP MPs and Suhail Hindustani, I attempted to expose the purchase of MPs for securing victory in the confidence vote that the then government was seeking in Lok Sabha in July 2008," Kularni said.

He claimed that he had "nothing to hide" and that he was not running away from anyone.

"I am ready to go to jail if exposing corruption is a crime," he said.

The court is also slated to hear the regular bail pleas of Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh and co-accused Sanjeev Saxena in the case.