New Delhi, July 30
Meeting for the first time today, the committee set up to look into the cash for votes controversy, decided to view the critical TV footage of the alleged bribery deal on August 4 and summon the petitioning BJP MPs on August 7.

Statements of the three BJP MPs, who alleged bribery by sitting Rajya Sabha members Amar Singh and Ahmad Patel, would also be recorded on the same date.

As for the preliminary meeting today, it was attended by only five out of seven MPs appointed to the panel by the Lok Sabha Speaker. The meeting that lasted 45 minutes ended with a consensus to view the critical TV footage of the alleged bribery deal on August 4.

The panel hopes to reassemble with full strength. Among those absent for “personal reasons” today were Rajesh Verma of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and C. Kuppusami of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). The latter had a function to attend in his constituency, where The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister was expected to come.

That apart, the panel chalked out a strategy for future progress in the case. Chairperson V. Krishna Chander Deo, while hoping to finish the enquiry within allotted time (until August 11), today told The Tribune that much would depend on the tapes, which form the basis of the petition by MPs Ashok Argal, Mahavir Bhagora and Fagan Singh Kulste.

Assuring a fair trial in the wake of the BJP’s demand for the expansion of the committee, Deo said he had no problem with more members. “The committee is for the quest of truth. It’s not about UPA versus NDA or Left versus Right,” Deo said, adding that it was for the Speaker to expand the panel.

Significant to the time-bound completion of the enquiry would be the evidence of the Rajya Sabha members facing charges of bribery by the BJP MPs. As per the Lok Sabha rules, a Lok Sabha committee can’t summon members of any other House (including state assemblies) in matters of privilege.

If a member of another House is to be summoned, the Lok Sabha committee would have to send an official request to the presiding officer of that House, who would then have to seek leave of the House to allow the request.

In the current case, the Lok Sabha panel would have to write to the presiding officer of the Rajya Sabha if it wants evidence from Amar Singh and Ahmad Patel, named as accused in the petitions. Considering the monsoon session of Parliament has yet not been scheduled, and there are reports that it may be deferred, the cash for votes panel might find it difficult to procure the testimonies of Rajya Sabha members as the leave of the House can only be sought when the House is in session. This scenario is likely to delay the enquiry in the case.

“Let us see if we need the evidence of the Rajya Sabha members at all,” Deo told The Tribune, adding that he had no power to allow airing of the tapes. He said the TV channel in question was free to do what it wanted with the tapes.