Bangaru Laxman sentenced; Congress asks BJP for introspection

New Delhi, Apr 28 (ANI): Hours after former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Bangaru Laxman was sentenced on Saturday to four years in jail for taking a bribe of Rs. one lakh in a fictitious arms deal case 11 years ago, the ruling Congress Party on Saturday hit out at the main opposition, saying it is high time for them to rethink about their organization.

Expressing unhappiness over the verdict of the Delhi Court, Congress spokesperson Rashid Alvi: "I am not happy at all. It is first time in the history of this country that a national president of a party, former national president of a national party, has been found guilty and has been punished by the court of law."

"I think it is proper time for Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for self-analyzing to think and to rethink about its organization. For self-examining, this is the proper time for the Bharatiya Janata Party," he added.

Additional Sessions Judge Kanwal Jeet Arora sentenced Laxman, holding him guilty of taking the bribe from fake arms dealers to recommend to the Defence Ministry to award them a contract to supply thermal binoculars to the Army.

The court awarded him the prison term, rejecting his plea for leniency and ordered that he be taken in custody to serve the sentence.

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)