Bangaru Laxman sentenced to four years in fake arms deal case (Update)

New Delhi, Apr 28 (ANI): Former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Bangaru Laxman was on Saturday sentenced to four years imprisonment and fined Rs. one lakh in connection with the fictitious arms deal case.

Laxman, convicted for accepting Rs one lakh bribe in a sting operation, earlier today sought leniency on the ground of poor health, while the CBI sought the maximum punishment of five years for him.

72-year-old Laxman, who was yesterday held guilty in the case, was produced from Tihar Jail before Special CBI Judge Kanwal Jeet Arora.

In a huge embarrassment for the BJP, Laxman was earlier on Friday convicted for accepting Rs one lakh as bribe from a fake arms dealer in a fictitious deal eleven years ago.

Laxman was convicted for taking bribe from fake arms dealer to recommend to the Defence Ministry to award them a contract to supply thermal binoculars to the Army.

Laxman, a former Union minister, was caught on camera in a sting operation in his chamber in the party headquarters.

He had to quit as president shortly after the sting expose, which created a huge political storm. (ANI)