India, Sept. 16 -- Rajasthan's Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has exonerated two businessmen accused of bribing lawmakers to topple the then Congress government in 2020, saying they discussed the COVID-19 pandemic, China-Pakistan geopolitics, and the tussle between chief minister Ashok Gehlot and his deputy Sachin Pilot, unlike what was alleged based on call recordings.

The matter came to light when a single-judge Rajasthan high court bench quashed the case against Ashok Singh and Bharat Malani on Monday, based on the ACB's report dated August 26. The report, submitted to Justice Ashutosh Kumar, said Singh and Malani were booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act on August 9, 2020, based on three call recordings with Anil Mishra and Ka...