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Balram Jakhar acquitted in Jain hawala scandal

A special court today acquitted former Lok Sabha speaker Balram Jakhar in the Rs 650 million Jain hawala (illegal foreign exchange deals) scandal.

In his 93-page order, Special Judge V B Gupta said: "I came to the conclusion that the prosecution has failed to prove that Jakhar, during his tenure as a public servant, was in conspiracy with the co-accused Jains and received Rs 89,928 from them as illegal gratification."

Explaining his decision, the judge said: "The mere fact that accused S K Jain was known to Balram Jakhar will not fasten any accused in the present case with criminal liability as alleged by the prosecution. Mere association between certain persons will not amount to any criminal act."

The Central Bureau of Investigation had alleged that Jakhar had obtained favours from the Jain brothers for his wife Rameshwari and her friend Kulwant Kaur's foreign trip in September 1989.

The ticket cost of Rs 89,928 was paid by the Bhilai Engineering Corporation, which is owned by the Jains.

UNI

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