Two accused in the corruption case, involving Chairman of Scheduled Castes panel Buta Singh’s son, Sarabjot Singh, have turned approvers following which a special court pardoned the duo.
Dhukh Singh Chauhan and Madan Singh Solanki, both hawala operators in December last year, recorded their confessional statements under Section 164 of the CrPC before a magistrate.
The statements can now be directly admissible in the court and the duo would be produced as prosecution witnesses in the trial against Sarabjot, CBI counsel A.A. Ansari said.
Sarabjot was arrested by the CBI on July 31 last year for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 1 crore from a Nashik-based contractor for closing a case against him pending before the National Commission for Scheduled Castes headed by Buta Singh. The bribe amount was allegedly handed over to Solanki at Chauhan’s garment shop. Sarabjot is presently out on bail.
The duo, however, recently made an application before the special CBI court seeking pardon under Section 306 of CrPC in which a judge can grant pardon to an accomplice in a crime on the condition of his making a full and true disclosure.
Special CBI Judge S.P. Hayatnagarkar last week observed that the disclosure made by the two accused appeared to be within their knowledge and pardoned them.
