Tuesday, December 20 2005 12:13 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Taking cognisance of the second scam showing MPs taking money purportedly for securing contracts under the MPLAD scheme, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee today (Dec 20, 2005) announced that an enquiry would be conducted into the 'serious allegations of improper conduct'.

The Speaker asked the five MPs figuring in the fresh expose not to attend the House until the matter was looked into and a decision taken.

The five MPs are Alemao Churchill (Cong), Faggan Singh Kulaste, Ramswaroop Koli and Chandra Pratap Singh (all BJP) and Parasnath Yadav (SP).

"Honourable members, while an enquiry is being conducted with regard to some serious allegations of improper conduct on the part of some Hon'ble members of the Lok Sabha in the matter of submitting questions for answer by the government, it is a matter of great concern that further allegations against five members, including one against whom an enquiry is already pending, have been made in the TV channel Star News," Chatterjee said.

These related to alleged improper conduct in the implementation of the MPLAD Scheme, he said as soon as the House met this morning.

"I have discussed the matter with leaders of political parties and there is an agreement that an enquiry should also be held with regard to the new allegations which should be looked into with all the importance they deserve," the Speaker said.

The composition of the Enquiry Committee and its terms would be decided in consultations with leaders of political parties soon, he said.

A probe is already underway against ten MPs who were caught on camera taking money purportedly for raising questions in Parliament.