Former PM Rao sentenced to 3 years in jail<\/p>\n
NEW DELHI (Agencies): A special Indian court sentenced former
\nprime minister P.V. Narasimha Rao and a cabinet colleague to
\nthree years in jail on Thursday after they were convicted last
\nmonth in a vote-buying case.<\/p>\n
"I hereby sentence the accused P.V. Narasimha Rao and Buta
\nSingh to rigorous imprisonment up to three years and a fine of
\n100,000 rupees ($2,150)," special court judge Ajit Barihoke said
\nin his order at the high security courtroom.<\/p>\n
But Barihoke granted bail to Rao and Buta Singh till Nov. 8
\nallowing them to appeal against the order.<\/p>\n
They were released on 200,000 rupees bail until Nov. 8, giving
\nthem a chance to appeal.<\/p>\n
The judge also ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation,
\nthe equivalent of the FBI in the United States, to file bribe-
\ntaking charges against the four lawmakers who received the 16.8
\nmillion rupees in bribe money. One of them had helped the
\nprosecution and was the main witness in the case.<\/p>\n
The Supreme Court had earlier ruled that the four had
\nparliamentary immunity from prosecution. But Bharihoke said the
\nmen's bribe taking occurred outside Parliament.<\/p>\n
Rao came out of the courtroom surrounded by lawyers and armed
\ncommandos who protect him because of his former high office. A
\nspecial guest house in South Delhi was being prepared for his
\nimprisonment, the Press Trust of India reported, because it is
\nbelieved he would be in danger if he was sent to a regular
\nprison.<\/p>\n
The "rigorous imprisonment" that the judge imposed usually
\nmeans fewer privileges and a substandard class of prison.<\/p>\n
Rao would have to surrender on Nov. 8 if he did not get bail
\nfrom a higher court, a lawyer said. "If he gets bail, then this
\nsentence will be suspended," he said.<\/p>\n
Rao, who started India's free-market reform program, is the
\nfirst Indian prime minister or former prime minister to ever face
\ncriminal charges. Former prime minister Indira Gandhi was
\nsummoned to court in 1975 to face civil charges in a case of
\nelection irregularities, but was never punished.<\/p>\n
Rao sat patiently as Barihoke delivered the judgment in the
\ncourtroom packed with media and security personnel. Buta Singh
\nwas accompanied by supporters and family members. Later, the
\nformer prime minister's supporters started trickling into his
\nsprawling bungalow in the heart of New Delhi.<\/p>\n
"We are going to appeal against the conviction and sentence in
\nthe High Court. I argued for a minimum sentence and the judge
\nthought it fit to give a three-year sentence," Rao's defense
\ncounsel R.K. Anand said.<\/p>\n
He said Rao was calm when he heard the sentence.<\/p>\n
"We are confident we will succeed in the appeal in the High
\nCourt," he added.<\/p>\n
The vote-buying case involved allegations that in 1993 Rao
\ntried to influence a parliamentary vote of no-confidence by
\nbribing four lawmakers of a regional group. Rao's minority
\ngovernment defeated the no-confidence motion by a narrow margin.<\/p>\n
Rao, now 79, quit in disgrace as head of the Congress Party
\nafter the party suffered a humiliating defeat in general
\nelections in 1996.<\/p>\n
In 1997, a special court of inquiry indicted Rao and 19 others
\non charges of abetting bribery after lawmakers of the Jharkhand
\nMukti Morcha (JMM) party alleged they were paid $100,000 to vote
\nagainst the no-confidence motion.<\/p>\n
Earlier, the Central Bureau of Investigation had filed a case
\naccusing Rao and other Congress leaders of buying the vote. They
\nhad denied any wrongdoing.<\/p>\n
Thursday's sentence is the latest blow for Rao who led India
\nfor five years from 1991 and oversaw major cuts in trade and
\ninvestment barriers before suffering a crushing defeat in general
\nelections in 1996.<\/p>",
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