Rao’s counsel to argue MPs’ bribery case today

NEW DELHI, Aug 10: The arguments on quashing of charges framed against accused in the multi-crore MPs bribery case are expected to pick up ...

NEW DELHI, Aug 10: The arguments on quashing of charges framed against accused in the multi-crore MPs bribery case are expected to pick up steam in the Delhi High Court tomorrow, when former prime minister P V Narasimha Rao’s counsel will begin addressing the court.

Justice Jaspal Singh on Friday had expressed displeasure over the absence of Rao’s counsel and adjourned till Monday the hearing on petitions by 16 accused persons, who have appealed against the charges framed against them in the bribery case.

Rao has challenged the framing of charges against him and also the trial court’s decision to grant pardon to Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader Shailendra Mahato, whose name also figured among the 21 chargesheeted by Central Bureau of Investigation. The HC had in May this year stayed the trial court proceedings till further orders.

Among those who have appealed against framing of charges were Rao, former Union ministers Buta Singh, Ajit Singh, Ram Lakhan Singh Yadav and Capt Satish Sharma, former Karnataka chief minister M Veerappa Moily, JMM leaders Suraj Mandal, Simon Marandi and Shibu Soren, V Rajeshwar Rao, Anadi Das, Abhey Pratap Singh, Ram Sharan Yadav and Haji Ghulam Mohammed Khan.