Patna: BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) national vice-president Sushil Kumar Modi today (Sep 22, 2004) alleged that RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) supremo and Railway Minister Laloo Prasad of conspiring to implicate him in the cobalt machine purchase scam being probed by the Bihar vigilance.

"I have definite information that Laloo is conspiring to make me an accused in the FIR to be registered in connection the irregularities in the purchase of the cobalt machine installed at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) at Shekhpura in Patna,'' Modi said.

He said that the concerned file for his prosecution in this case had been sent to Chief Minister Rabri Devi for clearance.

Modi, a Lok Sabha member, said being the leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly in 1996, he was an ex-officio member of the governing body of the IGIMS.

The estimates relating to the purchase of the machine involving over Rs 50 lakh was approved by a team of technical experts "and I am unaware of the quality of the equipment and technicalities relating to the purchase," Modi told from Kolkata. Modi accused Laloo of having pressurised the State vigilance wing to implicate him in the case.

Claiming that the machine had been inaugurated by Laloo when he was Bihar Chief Minister, Modi said, "If I am being made an accused in the case, Laloo should also be named an accused.

Modi charged the RJD chief with resorting to 'dirty politics' to settle scores with rivals.

Modi charged that Laloo Prasad was trying to sully the image of the Opposition with an eye to the Assembly poll in Bihar due early next year.

Official sources said the vigilance department had detected glaring irregularities in the purchase of the machine for the IGIMS and recommended to Chief Minister Rabri Devi to order filing of FIRs against those prima facie found to be involved.

"Being an Opposition leader in the State Assembly for several years, I raised the issue of corruption against Laloo and his wife time and again," Modi said.

"Now as MP, I am doing my duty by raising the issue of tainted ministers in the Union Cabinet," Modi said.

He alleged that Laloo was making a frantic bid to put him behind bars as because of his initiative.

The RJD chief had to resign his Chief Ministership and undergo imprisonment thrice in the multi-crore fodder scam.

Modi is a petitioner in the fodder scam.