CBI today questioned Uttarakhand CM Harish Rawat for the second time in connection with a sting operation CD in which he was allegedly shown offering bribe to rebel Congress MLAs to save his government. Earlier, Rawat was examined by CBI and according to sources he had evaded some of the questions asked during the session.
The TV sting was done in March, when rebel Congress lawmakers voted against the state budget, triggering a political crisis. As a result of this, government was sacked by the Center and President’s rule was imposed in the state. Following which Congress knocked court’s door and Rawat again returned after winning trust vote as ordered by the apex court of India.
CBI had registered a Preliminary Enquiry (PE) on April 29 to probe the sting operation. However, Rawat has been denying the allegations and called the video fake after it was released by the rebel Congress legislators but later admitted that he was on camera in the sting operation.
The CBI had also rejected the state government's notification withdrawing the nod for probing the case which was given during President's rule.