'Truth, And Nothing But Truth'

12 August 2008

To
The Honourable Speaker
Lok Sabha
New Delhi

Subject: Witness statement in the ‘Cash-for-Votes’ scandal in Parliament onJuly 22, 2008 involving Shri Amar Singhji, General Secretary of the SamajwadiParty, Shri Ahmed Patelji, Political Secretary to the Congress President, andShri Reoti Raman Singhji, MP and Samajwadi Party leader

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Honourable Sir,

I am submitting this statement to your Honourable Self as a witness in therecent "Cash-for-Votes" scandal that rocked Parliament on July 22, 2008. Allthe information contained in this statement is based on Truth, and nothing butTruth, and I say this by invoking the name of Allah or God Almighty. My life isin threat, but I am ready to sacrifice my life for the Truth contained in thisstatement. My only wish is that my body may be buried near the Jama Masjidadjoining Parliament.

Let me introduce myself as a devoted Muslim and a patriotic Indian. My originalname was Suhail Ahmed, which I later changed to Suhail Hindustani. I am asmall-scale trader of gems and jewelry. I had a shop (Bobby Emporium, Shop No.6)in the shopping arcade of Janpath Hotel in New Delhi, which was closed down inApril 2008. I hail from Jaipur. My parents and other members of my family livein Jaipur.

For the past nearly 15 years, I am also active as an ordinary social andpolitical worker of the BJP. For many years I was a karyakarta in the BJP’sYuva Morcha and have worked closely with Shri Shahnawaz Hussainji, MP, when hewas a minister in Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayeeji’s Government. My family inRajasthan has a long association with the BJP and the Jana Sangh. My grandfatherwas indeed known as Shri Sageer Mian ‘Janasanghi’ Peeli Topiwale, who workedin Tonk and Ajmer Sherif.

I have lived most of my life in Delhi in the official residence of some MP orthe other. Besides my business, I do small errands and liaisoning work for MPsbelonging to various parties. This, combined with the fact that I move aroundmostly in North Avenue and South Avenue, has enabled me to develop closeacquaintances with people in various political parties and also with some inbusiness circles. As a result, I have acquired good ground-level knowledge ofthe political developments in the corridors of power.

In early July, after the communist parties withdrew support to the UPAGovernment, the "market" (as the place for political wheeling-dealings iscalled) was abuzz with talk that opposition MPs would be offered huge amounts asbribes to either vote for the Government or abstain from voting. Some of themiddlemen contacted me to find out if I knew any "plots" (codeword for MPswilling to cross-over for a consideration). I would ask them how much"paper" (codeword for the bribe amount) was on offer. Their reply —namely, that the amount was in the neighbourhood of Rs 20-25 crore — took meby surprise.

I had been closely following the debate on the nuclear deal. From what Iunderstood of the issue, I came to the conclusion that it was not in India’sinterests and that it was a sell-out to America. In particular, I was well awareof the strongly critical sentiments about the nuclear deal, and about the USPresident George Bush, that prevailed in my (Muslim) community. I was thereforeangry that, in its bid to go ahead with the nuclear deal, the UPA Government wasindulging in horse-trading in order to save itself in the trust vote.

Around this time, I came to know from the "market" that a large number (over15) of BJP and NDA MPs were being targeted by Shri Ahmed Patelji, Shri AmarSinghji and other leaders of the Congress and Samajwadi Party. I felt that thevictory of Dr Manmohan Singhji’s Government through defections from the BJPwas neither good for the country nor good for the Party I support.

On July 17, I left for Bangalore by an Air Deccan flight for three days on somepersonal work. I returned to Delhi on July 20 by a morning Air Deccan flight andbooked a room (no. 307) in the India Islamic Centre to conduct my operationsfrom there. I contacted Shri S.P. Guptaji, an IAS officer of Haryana cadre whoworks closely with Shri Bhupinder Singh Hoodaji, Chief Minister of Haryana. Heis the chief administrator of the Housing Board of Haryana. He was with me forover an hour at the coffee shop of the India Islamic Centre. He took the list ofMPs from me and said, "I don’t want any money in this deal. But if your listof MPs is pucca, I will take you to meet Shri Hoodaji and Shri Ahmed Patelji,who will discuss the deal with you."

While I was at the India Islamic Centre, a mushaira was being organised in theevening at the Centre’s auditorium. I met Shri Uday Pratap Singhji, aSamajwadi Party MP, (also known as ‘Guruji’, since he is known as the Guruof Shri Mulayam Singh Yadav) outside the auditorium. I have great regard for himas an elderly politician who is wise and experienced. I told him that I had alist of opposition MPs who could be approached to support the Government, andadded, "Mera kuchh kaam kar do, Guruji," (Guruji, please do me a favour.)When I gave him the list, he told me that this work was being handled by ShriAmar Singhji and that I should contact him through Shri Reoti Raman Singhji.Shri Uday Pratap Singhji took my number and said that Shri Reoti Raman Singhjiwould call me on my mobile.

It was at this time that I decided to do something big in life to expose thescandal of bribing MPs by pretending to act as a middleman.

On July 21, at around 11.30 am, I phoned Shri Sudheendra Kulkarniji, a seniorBJP activist who was OSD in the PMO when Shri Vajpayeeji was the Prime Minister.(His mobile number is 9810*****2). I have considerable respect for him due to myacquaintance with him when he used to live in the party full-timers’ rooms inthe BJP headquarters at 11 Ashoka Road. He now works with Shri Advaniji.Therefore, I felt that he was the right person for me to convey the message thatover a dozen BJP MPs were being approached by Congress-SP leaders.

Shri Kulkarniji took the names of BJP MPs from me and called me back in anhour’s time to say that he wanted me to meet him as soon as possible.

In the afternoon, at around 1.30 pm, Shri Guptaji phoned me and asked me to meethim at Claridges Hotel. He promised to arrange my meeting with Shri AhmedPatelji. As we were having soup in the restaurant, two persons came to meet us— Shri Lovely Singh (son of Shri Buta Singhji, former Home minister andGovernor of Bihar) and Shri Aman Arora, who was introduced as Shri LovelySingh’s friend. They came in a black-coloured Honda CRB car. They asked meabout the list of "Plots" (MPs) I had and questioned me about my contacts inthe BJP. Shri Guptaji prepared the list as per the names mentioned by me. Soonthereafter, Shri Lovely Singh put a call through to Shri Ahmed Patelji from hismobile and gave it to me to speak to him. Shri Patelji asked me to come to hishouse at 23 Willingdon Crescent at 7.30 pm along with my "Plots". When Iasked Shri Lovely Singh and Shri Aman Arora about their mobile number, both ofthem gave, strangely, the same number: 989******0.

Thereafter, I met Shri Kulkarniji and I gave him all the information I had.After posing many searching questions to me, he asked me, "What is your motivein giving this information to me?" Since I am from Rajasthan, I said, "Iwant to be Maharana Pratap, and not Mansingh. Raja Mansingh accepted the Mughalrule and, therefore, very few people in Rajasthan honour him today. In contrast,Maharana Pratap wandered in jungles, slept on the floor and ate rotis made ofgrass but did not surrender his self-respect before the Mughals. Therefore, tensof thousands of people gather every year to pay homage to him on his birthanniversary. I have seen this contrast with my own eyes."

I told Shri Kulkarniji that I recalled these contrasting images when I was facedwith two diametrically opposite options: either to pocket a few crore rupees bybetraying the country and acting as a dalal in the horse-trading of MPs, or toshow courage and earn the blessings of Allah."

My words increased the trust and confidence that Shri Kulkarniji had developedin me. He then asked me if I would facilitate the whistle-blowing operation by afew BJP MPs to expose the bribery scandal. I readily and enthusiasticallyagreed. He asked me, "Aap ki pahunch kahan tak hai?" (How high-level areyour contacts?). I offered to take the MPs to Shri Ahmed Patelji and Shri AmarSinghji. I told him that I had come to know from my contacts in the "market"that both were active in settling deals with non-UPA MPs willing to defy theirrespective party whips and support the Government.

Late in the afternoon of July 21, Shri Kulkarniji introduced me to three BJPMembers of Parliament (Lok Sabha) — Shri Ashok Argalji, Shri Mahavir Baghorajiand Shri Faggan Singh Kulasteji. Shri Kulkarni also told me that a team fromCNN-IBN was coming soon to work closely with the three MPs, record theirwhistle-blowing operation and telecast it.

My contacts in the Congress and SP circles were excited when I told them thatthree BJP MPs were willing to cross over. As mentioned earlier, Shri LovelySingh had arranged my meeting with Shri Ahmed Patelji at 7.30 pm at the latterresidence on Willingdon Crescent. Since the CNN-IBN team had not yet arrived, Irequested for the meeting to be rescheduled. I was then informed that I couldbring the MPs to meet Shri Ahmed Patelji to Le Meridien Hotel.

The CNN-IBN team, comprising Shri Siddharth Gautam, reporter, and Shri Sudesh,cameraman, arrived at Shri Kulkarniji’s residence at around 10.00 pm. Theyfitted hidden cameras behind the shirts worn by Shri Kulasteji and ShriBaghoraji, after which I took them to Meridien Hotel at around 11.00 pm. Allthree of us were driving in Shri Kulasteji’s vehicle bearing the MP’s label.Shri Argalji stayed behind at Shri Kulkarniji’s residence.

Upon reaching the hotel, Shri Lovely Singh told me that Shri Ahmed Patelji hadleft about 10 minutes earlier after having waited for the BJP MPs for quite sometime. There were many Congress leaders in the lobby of the Hotel and theatmosphere was that of a ‘Ghodon ki Mandi’ (horses’ market). I amconstrained to state here that, in CNN-IBN’s August 11 telecast of its stingoperation on the ‘Cash-for-Votes’ scandal, the channel hid the informationfrom its viewers that the visit to Meridien Hotel was to meet Shri Ahmed Patelji.The channel also showed no clips of the Congress leaders whom the two BJP MPsand I met in the hotel lobby.

From Meridien, we drove back to the residence of Shri Ashok Argalji at 4Ferozshah Road. Apart from Shri Argalji and Shri Kulkarniji, I met two otherpersons from CNN-IBN there. One was Shri Saif Kidwai, who introduced himself asa producer, and a colleague of his whose name I do not know. Shri SiddharthGautam of CNN-IBN told us that instead of going out to meet anybody with hiddencameras, it was better to invite the person to a safe room since the quality ofrecording would be much better. Accordingly, his team fitted cameras behindcurtains in the drawing room in Shri Argalji’s house, and a listening devicein an adjoining room.

After our failure to meet Shri Ahmed Patelji, I focused my efforts on meetingShri Amar Singhji. When I contacted Shri Reoti Raman Singhji at his residence(telephone no: 2378 2233) from my mobile (no. 999******0), he agreed to meet thethree BJP MPs at Shri Argalji’s house. Shri Reoti Raman Singhji came at around12.30. I introduced him to the three MPs. He told them that their interestswould be taken care of if they agreed to support the Government. The MPs askedhim how much they would be paid. He replied that the amount would be decided byShri Amar Singhji and promised to take them to meet the SP leader. This entiremeeting and conversation has been recorded by the CNN-IBN team on their hiddencameras.

During this meeting, I was partly inside Shri Argalji’s drawing room andpartly in the adjoining room where Shri Siddharth Gautam, Shri Saif Kidwai, ShriSudesh and the fourth member from the CNN-IBN team were listening to theconversation in the drawing room. Shri Kulkarniji was also present in theadjoining room.

Since it was late in the night, the MPs refused to go to Shri Amar Singhji’shouse. However, Shri Reoti Raman Singhji phoned me the next morning, on July 22,and said that Shri Amar Singhji was waiting for the MPs at his residence (27Lodhi Estate). Accordingly, I accompanied two MPs—Shri Argalji and ShriKulasteji—to Shri Amar Singhji’s residence. I was wearing greenhalf-trousers and a white t-shirt. Shri Baghoraji stayed behind at 4 FerozshahRoad. This was around 10 am.

We drove in a white Maruti Zen (DL 5CC 7218). My friend Hashmat Ali was drivingthe car. I was sitting on the front seat next to the driver’s. Shri Argaljiand Shri Kulasteji were sitting on the back seats. Shri Sidharth Gautam told usthat he would travel ahead of us in a CNN-IBN car and capture on his camera ourentry into, and exit out of, Shri Amar Singhji’s house.

Shri Amar Singhji welcomed the three of us warmly and treated us to dates anddry grapes. He was wearing white pyjama and a kurta of sky-blue colour. Thankingme for bringing the two MPs to meet him, he claimed that he had already"managed" the support of 275-285 MPs to ensure the survival of the UPAGovernment. Nevertheless, since Shri Reoti Raman Singhji had arranged themeeting, he would pay Rs. 3 crore to each MP if they abstained from the trustvote. At this point, Shri Argalji and Shri Kulasteji mentioned to him that theyhad one more BJP MP willing to abstain. Shri Amar Singhji told them that hewould pay the same amount to Shri Baghoraji.

After this, Shri Amar Singhji spoke to somebody and informed that person thatthree more BJP MPs had agreed to abstain from voting. Once the conversation wasover, he told us, "Aap ke baare mein main ne PM ko bata diya hai." (I haveinformed the PM about you.) He then phoned Shri Ahmed Patelji from his mobileand said, "I have three more Kamals (Lotuses) here." He made the two MPsspeak to Shri Ahmed Patelji. From the conversation I could make out that ShriAmar Singhji and Shri Ahmed Patelji were working in a coordinated manner.

Shri Amar Singhji offered to pay the MPs a token amount of Rs. one crore andasked them to carry it with them. Shri Argalji and Shri Kulasteji said, "Humnahin le jayenge. Bahar mediawalen khade hain." (We won’t take it with ussince mediapersons are standing outside your house.) Shri Amar Singhji thenpromised to send the amount with his assistant, Shri Sanjeev Saxena, within10-15 minutes. The remaining amount of Rs. 8 crore, he assured them, would bepaid to them after the trust vote.

As we were coming out of his drawing room, I told Shri Amar Singhji, "ThakurSahab, aap Thakur ho kar Marwadi ki tarah baat karte ho. Teen karod to bahut kumrakam hain." (Thakur Sahab, being a Thakur you are talking like a Marwadi.Three crores is too small an amount.) He smiled at me and said, "Aap der seaaye. Raat ko MPs ko le aate to Ahmedbhai bhi yahin pe the." (You came late.If you had brought the MPs last night, Ahmed Patel was also here and they wouldhave met him." I then asked him, "Thakur Sahab, mera kya hoga?" (Whatabout my share?) He said, "Aap ka saamaan hum ne Golf Course mein rakha hai.Vahan jaa ke utha lena." (Your amount is kept at Golf Course. Pick it up fromthere.)

While entering Shri Amar Singh’s house, I had seen Shri Siddharth Gautam andhis colleague Shri Saif Kidwai. Also present were reporters and cameramen fromseveral other TV channels. While I was inside Shri Amar Singhji’s drawingroom, Shri Siddharth Gautam (his mobile no. is 989******1) phoned me on mymobile (999******0) and said, "Please tell me what time you are leaving ShriAmar Singh’s house, so that I’ll be ready to shoot your car coming out ofthe house. I want to tell you that a lot of other mediapersons are also standinghere." This can be checked from my mobile call records and those of ShriSiddharth Gautam. We left Shri Amar Singh’s house at 10.48 am.

We left Shri Amar Singhji’s house to return to Shri Argal’s house at around10.30 am. Within 15 minutes, his assistant Shri Sanjeev Saxena, accompanied by awell-built person, arrived at 4 Ferozshah Road in a white Gypsy car no.DL-3C-S-8562. The number was noted by a member of Shri Argalji’s staff. Beforeushering Shri Saxena and his colleague (who was carrying two pistols hiddenbehind his clothes) into the drawing room, I told him, "Meri Shri Amar Singhjise baat karao, yeh maal bahut kum hai. Hum is par sauda nahin karenge." (Makeme speak to Shri Amar Singhji, because this amount is too small. We’ll not donot do the deal at this rate.") Shri Saxena put the call through to Shri AmarSinghji, who told me that he would double the rate to Rs 6 crore per MP. "Ifthis is acceptable, the deal is on. Otherwise, I’ll ask my man to returnimmediately."

I replied that the deal was acceptable. However, I did not have the time tocommunicate this part of the conversation with Shri Amar Singhji (about the ratebeing hiked from Rs. 3 crore to Rs. 6 crore) to the three MPs (who were insidethe drawing room) as the next stage of the operation took place swiftly.

I then ushered Shri Saxena and his colleague into the drawing room in ShriArgal’s house, which had already been bugged by the CNN-IBN team with hiddencameras. His colleague was wearing a yellow-coloured shirt with long sleeves. Ihad seen this person, who looked like a security guard, at Shri Amar Singh’shouse. He was carrying a small revolver hidden beneath his shirt. Shri Saxenahad carried the money in a dark green bag and removed ten bundles of Rs. 10lakhs each, most of it in currency notes of Rs. 1000, and placed them on atable.

After this, Shri Argalji introduced Shri Baghoraji to Shri Saxena as the thirdMP. Shri Baghoraji wanted to speak to Shri Amar Singhji for direct confirmationof the remaining amount to be paid. Shri Saxena tried to connect Shri AmarSinghji’s telephone number, which was repeatedly coming engaged. Finally, hegot all three MPs to speak to Shri Amar Singhji. After this, I asked Shri Saxenafor his mobile number, saying that I would like to remain in touch with him infuture for any "chhota-mota kaam". The number that Shri Saxena gave me was981******9. The CNN-IBN team has recorded these happenings on its hiddencameras.

After Shri Sanjeev Saxena left Shri Argal’s house, the CNN-IBN team filmed theserial numbers of the first and the last currency notes in the ten bundles.