Framing of charges against Rao adjourned

The designated Central Bureau of Investigation court on Friday adjourned for September 16 the formal framing of charges against former prime minister P V Narasimha Rao and 19 other accused in the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha MPs's bribery case.

Additional Sessions Judge Ajit Bharihoke adjourned the matter in view of the revision petitions filed by Rao and some other accused in the Delhi high court, challenging the CBI court's decision to frame charges of criminal conspiracy and corruption against them. Justice Jaspal Singh of the high court is presently hearing the revision petitions.

Rao and several other accused including former Union ministers Satish Sharma and Ajit Singh and former Karnataka chief minister M Veerappa Moily were present on Friday in the special court.

Several other accused in the case including former Haryana chief minister Bhajan Lal, JMM leader Shibu Soren and former JMM leader Suraj Mandal were exempted from personal appearance following applications from their counsel.

All the accused face trial under Section 120-B Indian Penal Code (Criminal Conspiracy) and the Prevention of Corruption Act for allegedly giving and taking bribes to save the Narasimha Rao government during a trust vote on July 28, 1993.

UNI

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