A court today sentenced former Indian Prime Minister Narasimha Rao and a former Cabinet minister to three years in prison for bribery and corruption.
Published:
13 October 2000 y., Friday
A court today sentenced former Indian Prime Minister Narasimha Rao and a former Cabinet minister to three years in prison for bribery and corruption.
Rao, 79, and former Home Minister Buta Singh also were fined $2,150 for bribing legislators in 1993 to back Rao in a crucial confidence vote. Rao's government survived that vote.
"I hereby sentence the accused P.V. Narisimha Rao and Buta Singh to rigorous imprisonment up to three years and a fine of 100,000 rupees ($2,150)," special court judge Ajit Barihoke said.
Rao and Singh also received bail until November 8, to allow them time to appeal the convictions and sentences. Defense lawyers said they would file appeals. Rao and Singh had faced maximum sentences of seven years in jail.
The two were convicted on September 29 of criminal conspiracy, bribery and corruption. Nine other defendants had been acquitted. Rao, who held office from 1991-96, is the first Indian prime minister to be convicted in a criminal case.
Rao became prime minister in elections after Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated in 1991. Rao was credited with launching India's free-market reforms. In 1996, Rao led the Congress Party to its worst election defeat in 111 years. He resigned after that loss.
Šaltinis:
europe.cnn.com
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.
The most popular articles
Polish ministers questioned over bribery allegations
more »
Estonian parliament raises support for second child
more »
Latvia's hottest politician, though not yet officially in politics, popped out for lunch Nov. 6 to host a press conference in which he spoke of his future party's health care program.
more »
Georgia's Security Minister Vakhtang Kutateladze today submitted his resignation, following a raid by security police on the country's main private television station.
more »
The US Embassy in Riyadh has asked thousands of Americans living and working in the Kingdom to limit their movement to avert possible retaliatory actions following the launch of air strikes on Afghanistan.
more »
United Nations, Secretary-General Kofi Annan Win Nobel Peace Prize
more »
State Department warns of threat
more »
Funding for plot financed with $500,000 bankroll
more »
On September 1 in Belarus were 103,3 thousand unemployed.
more »
Although renewed calls for a national identity card have sparked a heated debate in the United States in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attack, such cards are the norm in most of the world.
more »