NEW DELHI: The Decks were cleared for trial of former Union Minister Vidya Charan Shukla for his alleged involvement in the multi crore Jainhawala scandals as the trial court here last week ordered the framing of charges against him for criminal conspiracy, criminal misconduct and obtaining illegal gratification by misusing funds.
Setting a precedent for similar trial of other politicians and bureaucrats charge sheeted by CBI for their alleged involvement in hawala scandal, special judge V.B. Gupta said prima facie there were sufficient grounds for proceeding with the trial against Mr. Shukla and caucused, the Jain brothers on the basis of the evidence cited by the prosecution. Fixing May 24 for framing of the charges, the court asked the accused to be present personally in the court on that day. The judge in his 152 page order said “corruption and nepotism is rampant in our society, more particularly at the higher level.”
He said “‘it is a matter of grave concerns those persons highly placed in political life and holding office of ‘great responsibility should be indulging in any illegal activity.”
‘Mr. Gupta said “corruption has eaten into the nation’s moral fiber and rectifying this should be given top priority and a beginning has been made in this direction.” The CBI had filed the charge sheet against Mr. Shukla on January 23 this year alleging that he had received Rs 80.85 lakh between 1989 and 1991 as illegal gratification from the Jain brothers. Of this amount, Rs 38.85 lakh were received by him when holding public office, CBI alleged.
Mr. Gupta said the evidence on record before the court certainly showed that there was clear nexus between public servants and the Jains and the entries made in the diaries by them were “not without basis.”
“The judge said as per the prosecution case the transactions mentioned in those diaries and files pertain to the payment of illegal money. The Jains had maintained the account of illegal payment to politicians and bureaucrats in a “scientific and coded” manner which was obviously with the reason of making illegal documents.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 15, 1996
