Digvijay faces non-bailable arrest warrant in recruitment scam

Bhopal: A local court Saturday issued a non- bailable arrest warrant against Congress leader Digvijay Singh in an alleged recruitment scam at Assembly Secretariat here which took place when he was Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh.

Special Sessions Judge Kashinath Singh issued the warrant after the Congress General Secretary, an accused in the alleged scam, did not turn up in the court where a 169-page supplementary charge sheet was filed today.

The Rajya Sabha member was summoned by prosecuting agency - MP Police - to attend the court proceedings.

The seven other accused, including K K Kaushal and A K Pyasi - who appeared in the court - were granted bail after they furnished a personal security bond of Rs 30,000 each.

Kaushal and Pyasi were employees of the Secretariat.

The Court fixed March 14 for hearing.

Ahead of filing the charge sheet last year, police had grilled the veteran Congressman for five hours in connection with the scam.

The scam pertains to alleged irregularities in recruitment in MP Assembly Secretariat here between 1993 and 2003 when Singh was Chief Minister.

Last year, Singh had reportedly told investigators that all recruitments in the Secretariat during his tenure were done with the approval of State Cabinet and as per prescribed rules.

The accused have been charged with forgery, cheating, conspiracy and misuse of office as well as offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act.