Ex-Premier Found Guilty of Bribery

A special court convicted former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao in a vote-buying case, dealing another blow to the onetime political giant who quit in disgrace as head of the Congress Party in 1996. Buta Singh, Rao’s home minister, also was convicted, the United News of India reported. Nine others were acquitted. Rao was found guilty of criminal conspiracy and bribery. Rao, Singh and several politicians and businessmen were accused of bribing four lawmakers to vote in favor of the ruling Congress Party in a crucial confidence vote July 28, 1993. Rao’s party won by 14 votes.