... It is rather strange and unfortunate that there has  been a failure on your part in adopting the same set of principles with regard to persons who are similarly placed, if not placed in a worse position than Mr. Sedapatti R. Muthiah. To quote a few, Mr. Buta Singh .has been chargesheeted for allegedly bribing JMM MPs ... A Constitution bench of the Supreme Court delivered a significant judgement in the JMM bribery case on 17.4.1998 and ruled very clearly that trial must proceed against Mr. Buta Singh.

Mr. Ram Jethmalani ... is reported to have made certain admissions under oath before a Metropolitan Magistrate Court in Bombay with regard to the illegal receipt of 200,000 U.S. dollars while abroad, which amounted to violation of Section 8(1) of the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act. The Enforcement Directorate is reported to have initiated action suo moto on the above information and after investigation sought the Prime Minister's sanction to prosecute Mr. Ram Jethmalani for the offence under Section 8(1) of the FERA ...

There are also several other allegations against some more members of your Cabinet who are facing criminal charges. Apart from the fact that the above incidents should be within your knowledge based on information, it is also to be mentioned that some Members of Parliament have sought the above acts to your notice through letters addressed to the Prime Minister. Having regard to the above facts it would be in the fitness of things that you should adopt a uniform policy/standard by requesting the Ministers in your Cabinet who are involved in criminal cases to submit their resignation from the Cabinet forthwith

... I would think that it would be proper for the Prime Minister to drop them from the Cabinet ... If however, you are of the view that accusation cannot take the place of proof and should not be the basis to oust the Ministers from their positions, then it is legitimate that the said principle is extended and applied to Mr. Muthiah also by reinducting Mr. Muthiah into the Cabinet forthwith.                    (Source: The Hindu, 19 April, 1998)