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'Political forces' are out to damage me, reacts Buta

July 31, 2009 13:31 IST
Chairman of National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Buta Singh, whose son has been arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation in a bribery case, on Friday said "political forces" were out to damage him and his family and ruled out his resignation.

"I have faced many attacks earlier and my family has also been dragged (into controversies) and I know who all are behind this. Political forces are involved," Singh claimed while addressing a press conference in New Delhi, hours after his son Sarobjit was arrested by CBI in Mumbai.

"I don't want to comment on CBI. I know CBI very well. CBI has been used against me and my family. They are made to say things against us," the former Union minister said while responding to a question.

Sarobjit Singh was arrested on Friday morning by CBI's Anti-Corruption Bureau for allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs 1 crore from a contractor to close a case against him in the Commission headed by his father.

Buta Singh said as per the practice, CBI takes action only after the state government recommends it, but in this case, a private citizen has petitioned before CBI after which it took up the matter.

"That person is facing 12 cases," he said. Asked whether he will resign on moral grounds, he said, "I don't claim to be a great moralist...Why should I quit? My judgement is correct. (If I resign) I will be giving into the (design of) a top criminal of the country."

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