Cong seeks report on MLA’s bribery charge against party leaders

On Monday,Dubey,a five-time MLA from from the Maoist-affected Vishrampur constituency in Palamau,told reporters here,“In 2010,my own party’s Rajya Sabha MP Dheeraj Sahu had given Rs 25 lakh to MLAs to get their votes. In handing over the money to them,my party’s state in-charge Keshav Rao and state president Pradeep Balmuchu were together. They had come to me with Rs 25 lakh too. I refused the money and apprised Congress president Sonia Gandhi about it.”

On Wednesday,Dubey (69) reiterated his allegations. “I don’t speak lies,” he told The Indian Express. Asked why would his party men give money to get votes from their own party MLAs,he replied: “They always did it to prevent cross voting.”

Although Rao was not available for his reaction,Balmuchu,who is now the Congress’s candidate for the Rajya Sabha polls,refuted Dubey’s allegations. “His allegations are sheer rubbish,” said Balmuchu. Sahu too refuted his allegations. “There is not an iota of truth in his statement. I never paid any money to gain votes.”

Dubey’s allegations came three days after Chief Minister Arjun Munda recommended a CBI probe into the cash-for-vote case of 2010. Dubey wanted the CBI to take note of his account as well. “I am ready to testify before the CBI,” he said.

The case was registered on the basis of tapes,first aired by CNN-IBN channel,allegedly showing six MLAs taking money for their votes,and that of their colleagues,in the June 17 Rajya Sabha elections of 2010.

The candidates who won that election were both crorepatis — Congress’s Dheeraj Sahu and JMM’s K D Singh.