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Three more prosecution witnesses turn hostile in JMM bribery case

Three more prosecution witnesses in the JMM MPs bribery case have turned hostile and denied making any statements to the CBI corroborating its charges.

During cross-examination by CBI special public prosecutor R M Tewari on Thursday, witnesses Darmian Singh, Roop Ram and Niranjan Rao claimed complete ignorance about the chain of events on July 30, 1993.

According to the CBI, Bangalore-based liquor baron D K Audikeshavalu allegedly came to Delhi along with former Karnataka ministers H M Revanna and Ramalinga Reddy on July 30 with money to bribe the JMM MPs who had voted for the P V Narasimha Rao government during the July 28 no-confidence motion.

Darmian Singh, driver with a guest house in the posh New Friends Colony area owned by Mohan Beverages and Distilleries, said he did not remember whether the guest house manager told him that Audikeshavalu would arrive on the night of July 30 and a taxi would have to be sent to the IGI airport to receive him.

He also denied having told the CBI that Revanna, Audikeshavalu and Ramalinga Reddy were picked up from the airport and then taken to Andhra Pradesh Bhawan to meet then MP Rajeshwara Rao. He also denied that Audikeshavalu was finally left at Claridges Hotel with the suitcases containing the money.

Darmian Singh alleged that the CBI officials had beaten him up.

Similarly, Roop Ram, driver with the Ahir taxi stand in New Friends Colony, said he did not remember who all he ferried on December 30. He also denied that he had told the CBI that on the way, Audikeshavalu and others stopped over at the 14-E Ferozeshah Road bungalow, then occupied by JMM MP Suraj Mandal.

The third witness, Bangalore-based businessman Niranjan Rao, admitted that he stayed in Claridges Hotel on July 30 1993 and had also booked a room for Revanna, whom he knew since his student days. However, he stated that Revanna did not occupy the room and that he did not meet the former minister before departing for Bangalore the next day. Rao said he was visiting the capital in his capacity as the PRO of Dayanand Sagar College of Engineering and chief of Sagar Synthetics.

Special CBI Judge Ajit Bharihoke adjourned further proceedings in the trial to January 21 and 22.

UNI

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