CD row: Prashant Bhushan files defamation suit in Supreme Court

New Delhi, Apr 18 (ANI): With the controversy over the anonymous CD mailed to media houses allegedly featuring a conversation between former Law Minister Shanti Bhushan and former Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Mulayam Singh Yadav gaining momentum, advocate Prashant Bhushan has filed a defamation suit in the Supreme Court today.

According to reports, Amar Singh is the only person named in Bhushan's petition.

Meanwhile, it has been reported that Amar Singh will slap a case on the Bhushans over the controversy. He is also expected to seek Shanti Bhushan's voice sample.

Prashant Bhushan claimed last evening that the CD controversy is a conspiracy to discredit the civil society members of the Lokpal Bill Drafting Committee, and the doctoring of the CD has the backing of some powerful people.

He also said that he sent the CD to two private labs, which say that it is doctored.

Citing the alleged experts, Bhushan said the CD is a cut-and-paste-job and there are six places where the 'it' has been edited.

He said that parts of the Amar-Mulayam conversation are from the Amar Singh tapes, recorded before February 2006, and which Bhushan submitted to the Supreme Court for an inquiry.

Veteran social activist Anna Hazare had on Sunday rubbished allegations accusing Shanti Bhushan, who is the co-chairman of the Lokpal Bill joint drafting committee, of being involved in a CD controversy, and backed his presence on the panel.

"The CD is bogus. This is the report we have received. I heard this first thing in the morning. Now Shanti Bhushan is facing the court. If he is guilty, he should be punished. But, if he is not guilty and if someone is trying to deliberately spoil his reputation, then it is not right. How can I guarantee for anyone? I have just been introduced to Shanti Bhushan," said Hazare.

"Such allegations will be levelled against us," he added, when asked whether Bhushan should continue as a member of the joint drafting committee.

It was earlier reported that Shanti Bhushan has approached the Delhi Police seeking investigation into circulation of a CD purportedly having his conversations with political leaders Mulayam Singh Yadav and Amar Singh, alleging they were fabricated.

Bhushan alleged that a journalist approached him for his comments for a news story on the CD, which purportedly had his conversations with the leaders.

The CD has audio clippings of a phone conversation allegedly between Shanti Bhushan, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Amar Singh about influencing a judge.

It, however, remains a mystery as to who circulated the CD. (ANI)