INDIA: TV channel exposes MLAs involved in hawala

CNN-IBN sting operation shows Minister accepting bribe

Times of India
Wednesday, February 15, 2006

Lucknow --- The political establishment in Uttar Pradesh was shaken on Wednesday by a TV news channel's expose of the alleged involvement of three legislators in criminal activities like money laundering, drug trafficking and poaching.

During the sting operation conducted by CNN-IBN channel and DIG, journalists also secretly filmed one of the politicians -- Minister of State for Backward Classes Welfare Mehboob Ali -- allegedly accepting a bribe to arrange the transfer of government officials.

The footage aired on the channel showed Ali, a leader of the state's ruling Samajwadi Party, demanding a 20 percent kickback for "shipping" a consignment of narcotics in his official car.

Ali also agreed to even put the journalists, posing as drug traffickers, in touch with a known narcotics supplier in Barabanki, 40 km from here.

Ali allegedly accepted money from the journalists for facilitating the transfers and postings of officials, including legal and police officers.

Date Posted: 2/15/2006