NEW DELHI, January 9: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today sought to cross-examine again a key witness, Devender Mukhia, in the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) MPs bribery case, in the light of an affidavit filed by him with the Delhi High Court in July last year.On Wednesday, Mukhia had disowned his statement purportedly given to the CBI about the conspiracy and payment of bribe to defeat the July 28, 1993, no-confidence motion against the P V Narasimha Rao government.
According to the application and supporting documents moved by CBI counsel A K Dutt in the trial court of additional sessions judge Ajit Bharihoke today, the witness had stated in the affidavit that he had been asked by the CBI director on February 21 last year to come to the Prime Minister's Office in Parliament House. After a meeting with the then prime minister Deve Gowda, the then CBI director Joginder Singh reportedly asked Mukhia to retract his statement to the Bureau.
``We have to help (Narasimha Rao) to run the
government at any cost. You will get whatever you want,'' Mukhia quoted Joginder Singh as having told him.
He was again called to the Prime Minister's Office on February 24, 1997 and told to disown his statement.
On March 24, Mukhia said he was called to the residence of the prime minister again and told in the presence of Joginder Singh that ``You, a common person should not involve yourself in the case going on against Rao saheb...if your statement is not withdrawn, your life can also be in danger,'' he said in his affidavit.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
