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Journalism of Courage
Five Sundays after The Sunday Express broke the story of the then Union Minister Dilip Singh Judeo filmed accepting cash in a New Delhi hotel, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) announced it had registered a case against Judeo, his personal assistant Natwar Rateria and two other persons for allegedly giving and taking a bribe of Rs 9 lakh.
The CBI, under Opposition fire for playing the Government’s maiden, filed the case on Friday in the designated court against Judeo, Rateria, Bhupendra Singh Patel alias ‘Rahul’ — the alleged bribe giver and an employee of a local cable network in Raipur — and Arvind Vijay Mohan, an art dealer who provided the logistics for the secret video recording of the exchange of money, CBI spokesman G Mohanty told reporters here.
He said all four and some ‘‘unknown persons’’ had been booked under Section 7 (public servant taking bribe other than legal renumeration), Section 12 (abetment of the offence under Section 7), Section 13 (2) read with Section 13 (1)(D) (criminal misconduct by a public servant) of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code.
This was followed with raids at 17 places in Delhi, Gurgaon, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh which included the official and native homes of Judeo, residence of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi, offices of Akash Channel, a local cable operator in Raipur, its employees and directors.
The CBI said it had seized several documents from the residence of Jogi and Akash Channel. Amit Jogi’s house in Delhi was also raided. The CBI spokesman said that after registration of a Preliminary Enquiry, it was found that the person identifying himself as ‘Rahul’ was introduced to Judeo as Rahul Saroggi by Shekhar Singh of Bhopal whom Judeo has known for 25 years.
Rahul, whose identity was established as Bhupendra Singh Patel, had visited Judeo’s office, residence and hotel several times since July this year.
During investigations, it was found that Patel alias Rahul was using a particular mobile phone registered in the name of Rohit Choudhury. The CBI spokesman said that Patel had obtained this SIM card from Rohit during July and August.
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It’s me or Saddam on TV,
what do I do: Judeo |
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• The FIR and raids had clearly upset Judeo but he didn’t wish to comment. Yet he told The Indian Express: • Takleef to bahut hui hai (It’s really painful). Do you think it calls for celebrations? • You either watch me or Saddam Hussein on TV. Do you think it’s pleasant? But what can I do? These are the ways of the world. • The police landing at your doorstep is no honour. I am more worried about the raid in Jashpur. My wife’s alone there. Story continues below this ad • Why should I feel let down by the party? It belongs to all its workers. It is Vajpayeeji’s party, Venkaiahji’s party, Judeo’s party. — Pradeep Kaushal |
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According to the FIR, the inquiry disclosed that Judeo and Rateria had visited Hotel Taj Mansingh on November 5 where Patel alias Rahul was present alongwith Manish whose identity is yet to be established.
The CBI spokesman said that Patel paid a bribe of Rs 9 lakh to Judeo as a motive or reward to render assistance in future with regard to matters pertaining to purported mining projects in Chhattisgarh and Orissa.
Rahul was in close contact with Arvind Vijay Mohan, who had arranged for secret video-recording of the money exchange.
Mohan was in frequent communication with a particular number registered in the name of Jogi and his son Amit, the spokesman said, quoting the FIR.
The FIR also stated that an analysis of Patel’s mobile telephone print-outs disclosed that other than Mohan, he was in touch with Raj Awasthi, Rajat Prasad and Rohit Prasad, all connected with Akash Channel.
In a statement late tonight, Rajat Prasad denied the charges.
Patel was also found to have another mobile telephone number which was registered in the name of Akash Channel.
On the forensic examination of the videotape, the spokesman said that the report had not come so far but the case was converted into a regular case after the agency prima facie corroborated several facts in the case.
