NEW DELHI, Aug 11 � Decks have been cleared for re-entry of expelled Congress leader Ripun Bora back into the party, after Supreme Court rejected the Central Bureau of Investigation�s (CBI) plea, upholding the Delhi High Court�s clean chit.
Reacting to the development, AICC general secretary in-charge for Assam, Digvijay Singh said that the Congress party has decided to re-admit Bora, who was arrested for allegedly attempting to bribe a sleuth of the Bureau.
The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee had expelled Bora on June 7, 2008 after he was arrested along with three others, after mounting pressure from the Opposition. He was earlier sacked from the post of Education Minister.
A visibly relieved Bora, addressing newsmen on Saturday swore revenge alleging that he had fallen victim to an ugly political conspiracy hatched by a group of his own party-men. �I am planning to call on the Prime Minister and Congress president, Sonia Gandhi and seek a probe into the conspiracy part,� he said.
�I want to draw the attention of the Prime Minister, whose Ministry is in charge of CBI about how lower-level officials were hand-in-glove in framing me under false charges. The lower level CBI officials were used by my political opponents,� he alleged.
That the image and reputation of the organisation has been dented is manifested by the judgement of the Apex Court, he observed.
�I will urge the Prime Minister to probe the entire episode and unearth the conspiracy,� he further added.
Bora, who has been in the doghouse ever since he was arrested and sent to jail, plans to return to active political life. His wife represents his Assembly Constituency of Gohpur, after Bora was denied ticket during the last Assembly polls.
A division Bench of Supreme Court comprising Justice HL Dattu and Justice Chandramuli Kr Prasad on August 9, upheld the Delhi High Court�s verdict.
The delay condoled and case dismissed. However, question of law relating to CBI manual is kept open,� the order said.
The Delhi High Court had on December 7, last year ordered that in the light of the observations made by Bora�s counsel, the charge sheet and the proceedings emanating there from were quashed. Justice GS Sistani, who hear the case, said he was of the view that the proceedings against Bora had been initiated in utter abuse of the process of law and the quashing thereof would secure the ends of justice.
