Bakshi cleared of scam

Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi has apparently been cleared by police. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Police have apparently cleared National MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi of wrongdoing in an alleged immigration scam without interviewing a key accuser who has now returned to India.

The accuser, Darshan Singh Saran, provided a sworn statement that threats and pressure from influential figures in India silenced a key complainant in the case against Mr Bakshi.

But friends yesterday said Darshan Singh Saran had left New Zealand unexpectedly without being interviewed by police.

Counties-Manukau police yesterday indicated a statement would be released saying Mr Bakshi was to be cleared - but nothing was sent out. A spokeswoman said investigations were finished and had been checked out by the legal team.

Police did not respond to subsequent Herald calls.

They have been looking at the case for three months, after Immigration NZ passed on new information, including Darshan Singh Saran's statement.

Darshan Singh Saran's statement was read out under parliamentary privilege by Labour MP Pete Hodgson in August.

It said Kuldeep Singh, who made the original complaint that Mr Bakshi was giving false job offers to Indians trying to get into New Zealand, was subsequently harassed by associates of Mr Bakshi in India. This left him so "desperate and very afraid" he gave up his complaint.