Charges framed against Balram Jakhar in hawala case

A special court on Tuesday formally framed charges against former Lok Sabha speaker Balram Jakhar in the Rs 650 million Jain hawala case.

Special Judge V B Gupta framed charges after Jakhar, who was personally present in the court, pleaded not guilty and preferred to be tried in the case.

The trial will begin on November 19.

Charges were also framed against the brothers S K Jain, N K Jain and B R Jain and their employee J K Jain.

Jakhar is alleged to have received Rs 89, 928 as illegal gratification (in the form of air fares for wife and son to visit London) from the Jain brothers. The judge said there was prima facie evidence against him.

Jakhar and the four Jains would be tried for criminal conspiracy under 120 (b) IPC read with sections 7, 12, 13 (2) and 13 (1) (d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

On September 3, Gupta had passed a 189-page order announcing his decision to frame charges.

UNI