India MPs suspended for 'bribes'

BBC NEWS | South Asia: "The governing Congress party suspended one of its members of parliament and the main opposition BJP five. Another party suspended three of its MPs. They were among MPs secretly videotaped by a news website and a news channel allegedly accepting money for asking questions in parliament.

MPs belonging to some regional parties, including the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), were also shown taking money in the videotapes secretly recorded by the Cobrapost news site and Aaj Tak television. BSP leader Mayawati said three of her MPs shown on the tapes had been suspended too.

According to the Cobrapost website, the "investigation" recorded 11 MPs belonging to various parties "taking cash for asking questions in the parliament". "The MPs took between $232 and $10,000 each to ask questions on the floor of the house," Cobrapost's Aniruddha Bahal was quoted as saying by AFP news agency.

Nearly five years ago, Indian news website Tehelka taped video footage of senior politicians, bureaucrats and Indian army officers apparently taking money in connection with a defence deal. The scandal forced the resignation of the then BJP president, Bangaru Laxman, and former federal defence minister, George Fernandes. "