BJP suspends Gujarat MP for trying to 'smuggle' two out of country

A BJP MP from Gujarat was today arrested at the international airport here after he allegedly tried to take a woman and a teenaged boy to Canada on diplomatic passports of his wife and son.

Babubhai Katara, 46, a second-time MP from Dahod (ST), was detained by police after a complaint by the immigration officials when he came with Paramjeet Kaur and her son Amarjeet to take an Air-India flight to Toronto.

Leader of Opposition LK Advani and BJP chief Rajnath Singh ordered his suspension from the party. "He has been suspended from the party on directions of the Leader of Opposition and the party chief. A showcause notice is also being sent to him," said Vijay Kumar Malhotra, the deputy leader of the BJP in the Lok Sabha.

The alleged fraud was detected at the boarding gate by the Air-India staff. They informed the immigration officials, who detained the three. After an argument, CISF personnel detained the three for questioning and informed the local police.

Following investigation, police booked the three under various sections of the IPC relating to forgery, cheating and criminal conspiracy.

The MP allegedly used his "clout" for fast clearance at the check-in and immigration counters. An internal inquiry had been ordered to ascertain as to how Paramjeet and Amarjeet cleared the immigration check, sources said.