Congress MLA shows bribe' in House

Mumbai: Congress MLA Yashomati Thakur brought Rs 5 lakh in cash, which had been allegedly offered as bribe by a builder to social activist Sandeep Yeole to not publicise certain RTI details related to a Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) project, to the Assembly to be seized by the legislature. She demanded that the matter be probed by the government.

However, Speaker Haribhau Bagde questioned her for taking the money from Mr Yeole and bringing it to the Assembly. The House was even adjourned for 10 minutes over the issue. Later, the Speaker said he would expunge from the House proceedings the discussion on the issue and called for an inquiry. Ms Thakur spoke to the media outside the Assembly.

“I met Yeole at the MLA hostel and told me about the SRA scam. He wanted the police to arrest him and hold an investigation about the bribe money. I gave him a patient hearing and brought the bribe money to the Assembly. However, I feel sad that he did not get justice even in the legislature,” Ms Thakur said.

When she raised the issue in the House, the ruling party members created uproar. “My voice was suppressed by the ruling party MLAs. This government talks about eradicating black money but not taking any cognisance of the person who is carrying this black money. Now I am going to lodge a police complaint about the bribe,” Ms Thakur added.

Raising the issue in the Assembly, the Congress MLA demanded that the legislature seize the bribe money. However, Mr Bagde refused to do so. The Speaker was even reminded by Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar that how some MPs in the past had brought money to Parliament, which was seized later. But Mr Bagde reprimanded Ms Thakur for taking the bribe money from the activist. He also said that the discussion about the issue was expunged from the House proceedings and warned the media not to write about it.