Harish Rawat's sting operation fake, Congress calls it BJP's revenge

The Central Bureau of Investigation has booked former Uttarakhand CM Harish Rawat, his then Cabinet colleague Minister Harak Singh Rawat, Samachar Plus news channel’s CEO Umesh Kumar on horse-trading case. Congress leader, Rashid Alvi while talking to ETV Bharat claimed that Harish Rawat's sting operation is fake and BJP is misusing its power.

New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed an FIR against former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat and his then cabinet colleague Harak Singh Rawat, who is now a member of the state's BJP-led government, for alleged attempts of horse-trading in 2016, which was caught on tape by an editor of a news channel.

The video purportedly showed the Congress leader discussing money to win back the support of disgruntled MLAs who had crossed over to the BJP so that he could get back to power.

However, Congress says that BJP is doing it out of "revenge" and claimed it as a ''false video'' by alleging the Government over ''horse-trading''.

While speaking to ETV Bharat, Congress leader Rashid Alvi said, "We know it was a false sting operation and BJP is in a habit of horse-trading. Whether they've registered any case against their party leaders? ", the leader claimed.

He said that BJP is doing all this to take revenge.

He added, "CBI is working totally under the pressure and as per the instructions are given by the BJP government. This government is trying to prove all the opposition party leaders who are holding a position currently are dishonest."

He further added, "BJP government is spreading 'political vendetta' and 'misusing' its powers."

Earlier, CBI had conducted a preliminary inquiry into the alleged horse-trading attempt on March 23, 2016, when the state was under President's rule.

Besides Harish Rawat and Harak Singh Rawat, who joined the BJP later and is now a minister in the Trivender Singh Rawat-led cabinet, the CBI has also booked editor-in-chief of Noida-based Samachar Plus channel Umesh Sharma, who had purportedly carried out the sting operation in the airport lounge, the officials said.

The CBI has slapped the Indian Penal Code section pertaining to criminal conspiracy and bribery provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act on the trio.

After the video surfaced, the Centre handed over the probe to the CBI.

During the preliminary enquiry stage, the CBI had questioned Harish Rawat and Umesh Sharma.