Kept in the dark, PM summons Bhardwaj, seeks answers on Mr Q

After hearing out Bhardwaj, the PM sent for Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal and Minister of State for Personnel Suresh Pachouri. Sources said that Pachouri confirmed Bhardwaj had approached him with a letter from the Crown Prosecution. It was on the basis of this letter that Pachouri asked Bhardwaj to inform London, through Dutta last month, whatever the CBI had said.

The PM, who’s also the Cabinet Minister for Personnel, apparently asked Pachouri this afternoon why he had not been kept posted.

Meanwhile, the Congress distanced itself from Bhardwaj’s action. Party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said: ‘‘The Congress has nothing to do with it. The Congress stand is crystal clear: the law must take its course and the guilty must be punished.’’

Options were suggested to the PM to try and find a way out, including asking the UK authorities to restore status quo and not to take note of the ASG’s communication. The Government is also monitoring court developments.