In its first charge sheet filed in August 2011, Delhi police had accused Amar Singh and Kulkarni of conspiring and masterminding the cash-for-vote scam to bribe some MPs ahead of a confidence vote in Lok Sabha on 22 July, 2008.
Special Judge Narottam Kaushal also discharged BJP MPs Ashok Argal and Faggan Singh Kulaste, former BJP MP Mahabir Singh Bhagora and BJP activist Sohail Hundustani of charges of criminal conspiracy under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the provisions of the Corruption Act.
The court, however, ordered framing of charges against Amar Singh’s former aide
Sanjeev Saxena under the Prevention of Corruption Act for allegedly abetting the crime.
The court said that circumstances against Amar Singh does not go beyond the realm of suspicion, while it said that Kulkarni’s part was only of introducing the TV channel’s team to Argal, Kulaste and Bhagora with the view to recording evidence of horse trading.
It also said that Kulkarni had no role in the latter part of the event and that there was no direct evidence and no meeting of minds for committing illegal acts with illegal means. It also said that the meeting of minds with the TV channel team was only to expose horse trading in Parliament.