Paisa phek, tamasha dekh: BJP MPs showing the money they were allegedly paid to abstain from voting yesterday.  TV grab

There are chinks in the story of three BJP MPs-Faggan Singh Kulaste, Ashok Argal and Mahavir Bhagora-who claimed SP leader Amar Singh's assistant Sanjeev Saxena offered them money to abstain from the vote of confidence against the Manmohan Singh government.

According to Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the MPs had contacted the Madhya Pradesh police and a news channel to set up cameras at the 4, Ferozeshah residence of Argal to catch red-handed the person who would offer them money to abstain from the UPA's trust vote. Some cops were in the bungalow and so were the cameras, Chouhan had said. However, Bhagora has a different story altogether.

"There was no CNN, no police personnel were involved. No one was there," Bhagora said.
"There was no police personnel. It was just the three of us present there," Bhagora told MiD DAY.

Earlier, Chouhan said the MPs contacted the CNN-IBN channel to set up some cameras and record the bribe taking event at 4, Feroze Shah Road.

The MPs contacted Madhya Pradesh police personnel, who remained present throughout the deal at Feroze Shah Road. "We did not contact the Delhi police as it was under them (the Centre). So we got MP police personnel," Chouhan said earlier during the day.

But Bhagora told MiD DAY that on Sunday he talked to MP Ashok Argal and said they (Amar Singh) were buying the MPs. "So we picked up the risk. It has opened their bag. It is very bad," he said.

He narrated the incident when money was transacted. Excerpts from his confession:
"All three (MPs) were there in the room at 4, Ferozeshah Road. At around 9-9.30 am, he (Amar Singh's assistant) came.

"What have you got?" I asked.
"He said money. We asked how much?"               

Chinks in Rs 1 cr kahani

Curious lot: People queue up to enter the Parliament

He said Rs 1 crore. We said the deal was for Rs 3 crore. He said you please talk to Amar
Singh ji.

"The two MPs talked first. Then they said our third colleague wants to talk to you. So I talked to Amar Singh. He said we will give Rs 8 crore later after the vote of confidence."

"After talking to Amar Singh, I asked him (Saxena) to take the money out. How much money have you got? Take it out on the table, I told Saxena. He took out the money. Full Rs 1 crore," Bhagora said.

Bhagora and the other MPs then decided to splash it big for the world to see.
"Then we took it to the Parliament," he added.