CBI to question Buta Singh over bribery scam

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sources said on Saturday that they would be questioning National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Chairman and former Union Home Minister Buta Singh in connection with the Rs 1 crore bribery case involving his second son Sarabjot Singh.

Sources said that Sarabjot Singh had told the CBI after his arrest, that he had informed his father about 'settling'' the complaint against Nashik civic works contractor Ram Rao Patil, which had been lodged with the National Commission for Scheduled castes.

The CBI has said that they need constitutional sanction to question Buta Singh, and once that is given, they plan to invoke Section 7 and 9 of the Prevention against Corruption Act against the former minister.

Sarobjit was arrested on July 31 along with Anup Kumar Begi, Madan Singh Solanki and Dhukh Singh Chauha, for allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs one crore from Patil to close a case registered against him under the SC/ST Act. All four accused were sent to CBI custody till August 5. 

On Friday, Buta Singh termed the CBI's questioning of his son a political conspiracy against him and members of his family.

"It is a conspiracy against me and members of my family. This is not the first time that I have been targeted. Not just me, my family as well. There are political elements involved in this conspiracy. I know who they are, but I will not name them," said the former Union home minister at a press conference on Friday.

"I am not defending anybody. I will not quit my post during or even after this case is solved. I will seek time with the prime minister to discuss this issue," Singh said.

In the wake of his arrest, the opposition has called for Buta Singh's resignation from the Commission.

According to sources, Patil filed a corruption case on the basis of the complaint.

In his complaint, Patil had alleged that Sarabjot had demanded a bribe of Rs 3 crore, which was later brought down to Rs 1 crore, for withdrawal of a case under the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, filed against Patil by a group of local conservancy workers employed by him.