In a major setback to the anti-corruption campaign of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) against the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, a CBI court has sentenced former party president, Bangaru Laxman, to four years of imprisonment on charges of receiving a bribe of Rs 1 lakh in 2001 from undercover journalists posing as arms dealers of a fictitious UK-based company.
Senior BJP leaders believe the decision would have major implications for the party, as Laxman was not just another member of the party but its president, and had been with it since the Bharatiya Jana Sangh days.
“Although Laxman is a dalit leader from Andhra Pradesh, the major worry for BJP is that he was the party president. The sentence will have an all-India impact. The court’s decision will affect the party across the country and not just in a state. Though we have little presence in Andhra Pradesh, we are worried because he was the party president. He was part of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh and had come to the party through the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS),” said a senior BJP leader.
While announcing the sentence, additional sessions judge Kanwal Jeet Arora rejected Laxman's plea for leniency and directed he be taken into custody to serve the sentence. The CBI court also slapped a Rs 1-lakh fine on him.
"Sab chalta hai syndrome has led us to the present situation — where nothing moves without an illegal consideration. People are forced to pay for getting even the right things done at the right time. Balancing the twin interest of society and the convict, I am of the opinion that interest of justice would be met, if the convict is sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment under Section 9 of the Prevention of Corruption Act," the judge said.
Soon after the court's order, the Congress hit back at BJP. "It saddens me as it demeans public office and life. It sends a powerful signal that nobody is above law, no matter how big or great he is. He will have to pay the price — lessons must be learnt. BJP must shed its belligerent high-moral airs. Everyone needs to learn a lesson. Corruption has nobody's patent on it," said Congress leader Renuka Chowdhury.
Meanwhile, unhappy with the judgment of the CBI court, Laxman's lawyer Ajay Digpaul announced they would soon appeal against the verdict after going through the 155 page document. "We will challenge the decision in the high court. This was a framed case and some media personnel were behind it," said Digpaul.