’File report on the complaint against Amar’

Asks city court of Delhi police regarding complaint of a witness who alleged the MP and others had threatened, kidnapped him

'File report on the complaint against Amar'

Asks city court of Delhi police regarding complaint of a witness who alleged the MP and others had threatened, kidnapped him

Acting on a private complaint of Hashmat Ali, a prosecution witness in the 2008 cash-for-vote scam, a city court on Monday directed Delhi police to file a report on his complaint that Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh and others had threatened and kidnapped him ahead of his deposition before a parliamentary committee.

Metropolitan Magistrate Sudesh Kumar said, "Station House Officer (SHO) of Tughlak Road police station is directed to file a status report on November 21." Ali, in his complaint, has sought registration of an FIR against former Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh, his secretary Tarun and aide Ramesh under various provisions of the IPC and the Arms Act relating to kidnapping, illegal confinement, robbery and criminal intimidation.

Ali, alleged associate of BJP activist and co-accused Hindustani, had reportedly driven a car, in which then BJP MPs Ashok Argal and Faggan Singh Kulaste were sitting, to Amar Singh's residence on July 22, 2008. Initially Singh attempted to lure him to give a favourable testimony before the parliamentary panel. As Ali did not relent later, he was picked up by the accused from Khan Market in the Capital at gunpoint on the morning of September 25, 2008 and consequently, he could not record his statement before the panel. He was kidnapped by co-accused Tarun and Ramesh and was taken to the Lodhi Estate bungalow of Amar Singh.

The complaint filed through Ali's advocate L K Verma said, "Singh has threatened to kill him and his family. He also abused and slapped the complainant. Thereafter the complainant was locked in a room and after three-four hours, he was handed over to the police in the presence of media."

The parliamentary panel had also directed the Secretariat to prepare a draft report in the matter after Ali did not appear before it, his lawyer said. The court took the complaint of Ali into records asking police to file the report and fixed the matter for further hearing on November 21. Citing media reports, Ali's counsel said that it was apparent that he had been physically prevented from appearing before the committee in which a design of Amar Singh became conspicuous.

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Singh, undergoing treatment at AIIMS in judicial custody, is an accused along with BJP leader LK Advani's former aide Sudheendra Kulkarni, former BJP MPs Faggan Singh Kulaste, Mahabir Singh Bhagora and Sohail Hindustani, and Sanjeev Saxena in the cash-for-vote scam case.