New Delhi/Mumbai, July 31 - Former union minister Buta Singh's son Sarabjot Singh was Friday arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for allegedly accepting Rs.1 crore bribe. The former home minister termed the arrest of his son as a conspiracy against his 'personal and political life'.

The Congress party distanced itself from the veteran party leader who had held several important positions, including that of home minister, during Rajiv Gandhi's government.

Reacting to his son's arrest, Buta Singh said: 'This is a conspiracy to malign my political and personal life.' Buta Singh's son Sarabjot Singh, alias Sweety Singh, was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in New Delhi early Friday after being caught allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs.1 crore from a Nashik-based contractor for withdrawal of a case.

On the CBI's role, Buta Singh said: 'I do not want to comment on the CBI. I know the CBI very well.' He also rebuffed demands for his resignation as chairperson of the National

Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

Congress spokesperson Shakeel Ahmad, giving the party's position on the issue, told IANS: 'The party has nothing to do with it. It is between the CBI and Buta Singh's son. The law should take its own course.'

The CBI is also trying to ascertain Sweety Singh's involvement in some other financial transactions, including hawala or illegal money transfer deals.

According to CBI sources, the corruption case against Sweety Singh involves a complaint filed by Nashik-based civic works contractor Ramraj Patil.