Hegde, a former Supreme Court judge and now Karnataka lok ayukta, said that, 'I am fed up with people picking on panel members. I am hurt by Digvijay Singh’s comments.'
As allegations and counter-allegations flew thick and fast over lawyer Shanti Bhushan’s alleged conversation with Mulayam Singh Yadav and Amar Singh about trying to influence a judge, former Supreme Court judge N Santosh Hegde on Thursday hinted that he might quit the Lokpal Bill drafting committee. “I am seriously considering quitting. I am in consultations with my team,” said Hegde, who is expected to reach New Delhi on Saturday. He added: “I am fed up with people picking on panel members. I am hurt by Digvijay Singh’s comments.”
The Congress leader accused Hegde, the Karnataka Lokayukta, of protecting Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa, who is facing corruption charges. Hegde defended himself by saying: “There is no one who has fought Yeddyurappa, the way I have. My hands are tied, yet I have taken action, issued notices and sought explanations,” said Hegde.
Meanwhile, other civil society members refused to resign from the drafting committee even as the Central Forensic Sciences Laboratory (CFSL) said the CD containing Bhushan’s conversation may have not been doctored. Reports by Hyderabad’s Truth Labs and US audio forensic expert George Papcun had established the tapes were doctored earlier.
“No one has seen the (government forensic lab) report till now. We expected an adverse report. Had it been in our favour, we would have been surprised,” said Arvind Kejriwal, a member of the drafting committee. “No one is going to resign. We welcome an unbiased investigation into all allegations. Let the Lokpal Bill be drafted and the law be formed. If we are found guilty, we are ready for any punishment.”
Kejriwal said some “vested interests” are carrying out a “malicious campaign” to derail the process of drafting the anti-graft bill. Former IPL officer Kiran Bedi said all members of India Against Corruption are with Bhushan and his son, Prashant.
The father-son duo are accused of evading stamp duty on their property in Allahabad.
Bhushan and his other son are also battling allegations that they got two pieces of farmland of 10,000 sqm each in Noida allotted to them at low rates. The Bhushans have refuted all allegations.
Prashant, on Thursday rubbished the CFSL report.
“If the CFSL has indeed given such a report, it would be obvious that the government is involved in this smear campaign. Mulayam Singh’s voice in this CD has been lifted from Amar Singh’s conversation with him, which had been filed in the Supreme Court by me in 2006,” he said.
Hegde asked why the issue is being highlighted now. “The moment the committee was constituted, certain allegations were made against Annaji; some against Bhushans. The timing makes me very, very suspicious,” he said. Swami Agnivesh has demanded the verification of the CD from more authorities.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}