Mysterious lady Lalita surfaces in RS horse trading case

An independent candidate of March 30 Rajya Sabha election and his close associates were in regular touch with one Lalita through three different MTS mobile numbers, during election period. The Pioneer has documents to show that she happens to be the relative of an independent MLA who is learnt to have cast vote for that independent.

The CBI investigation into the RS poll has revealed that these three MTS numbers along with seven others were obtained on forged documents in the month of March against the name of Yakub Ali and others, by one Ram Bangar through to fix deals with power brokers and MLAs to get votes of MLAs for the said independent candidate. All these SIMs were destroyed on March 30 to wipe out any evidence of alleged horse trading.

Information and documents show, March 27 to March 29, Lalita on her Airtel number (20 as last two digits) had received 24 calls from three MTS numbers which are under the CBI scanner.

Information and documents available with The Pioneer indicate that Lalita had received six calls between 7 AM to 2 PM on March 27th from two MTS (number, 69 and 87 as last two digits of the respective numbers). The said MTS number, ending with 69, is said to be registered against the name of Ali. She had received call from MTS number (87) at 3.18 PM. On March 28 she had received at least 15 calls from MTS (69) from 9 PM to 10 PM.

On March 29 she received three calls from the same MTS number (69) between 3.47 AM to 12.47 AM. On March 29 she had received another two calls; at 4.09 PM and 7.47 PM respectively, from another MTS mobile number ending with 53. The longer call durations land Lalita in doubt as she does not seem to be an ordinary subscriber.

Further verifying about the mysterious lady in communication, it was found that Lalita is the residence of Tundul Doriya Toli Nayasaray locality: She had furnished documents of aforesaid residential address to the MTS service provider.

It is not a mere coincidence that the MLA had mentioned same address in an affidavit dated April 5, 2004 submitted to the Election Commission during filing his nominations in 2004 Assembly election. It is not a mere coincidence that the said MLA has mentioned Lalita as his wife in the affidavit. The only difference lies in the surname which is not so significant.

The doubtful thing is that the said 10 MTS numbers, including mentioned three, were used to communicate with more than a dozen powerful political persons during the  election period. The Pioneer is in the possession of certain details which indicates that Lalita or the person using her phone were in active touch with an independent MLA and close aide of other independent MLA whose conducts are under CBI scanner.

Taking a clue out of the May 18 raids by the CBI when the agency questioned Yakub Ali of Mandar about the 10 MTS SIMs obtained against his name, The Pioneer further probed the mystery behind use of these MTS numbers during the elections to reveal nexus. The Pioneer had first reported secret use of MTS numbers in its May 8 edition.

"Circumstances indicate indulgence of independent candidate and person using Lalita's number in some foul play since there is no reason to receive and make calls from secret or doubtful numbers at a time when investigative agencies had kept close eyes on any possible use of money," an intelligence official said.