Amar Singh, who passed away at the age of 64, came to prominence in India's political circles in late 1990s and was considered a close confidant of Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav.
If at all Indian politics is known for its animated discourse and interesting personas, Amar Singh surely deserves to be one worth a mention. A man accused of 'wheeling dealing', who could hit out at the likes of Digvijaya Singh by addressing him as "big brother" and be a reason for father-son split in the Samajwadi Party's first family.
It is said about the late politician that his relations thrived across the party lines, due to which he continued to emerge as a 'troubleshooter'.
Very soon, Singh became a firebrand and one of the most controversial political leaders of the country. His personality was such that despite being surrounded by controversies, his supporters called him an expert in fund razors and crisis management.
Here's a throwback to some random controversies created by Amar Singh:
Amar Singh and the Bachchans
Amar Singh and actor Amitabh Bachchan were once very close friends and even the politician said that he considered the actor like his elder brother. Amar Singh was one of the biggest support to Amitabh Bachchan when his Bollywood career was going through a bad phase. Singh even mentored the political career of Jaya Bachchan during her stint with the Samajwadi Party.
However, the friendship started sinking during 2009 Lok Sabha elections. Singh wanted Jaya to quit SP after he was expelled from the party, but the actress-turned-politician did not agree to do so.
Amar Singh vs Mayawati
In July 2008, a massive controversy broke out when Amar Singh accused Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati kidnapping six MPs of his party from Uttar Pradesh and holding them captive in Uttar Pradesh Bhavan ahead of the crucial trust vote. Later, the six MPs including him were expelled from the party.
Ever since then, Singh and Mayawati have been bitter political rivals. In January 2010, Singh did a volte-face when he said he admired Mayawati.
Delhi's Batla House Encounter
In 2008, Amar Singh sought a judicial enquiry into the controversial Batla House encounter, suggesting that the police shoot-out with "terrorists" may have been fake. Singh even gave a Rs 10-lakh cheque to the family of a Delhi Police officer who died in the encounter. However, the cheque bounced.
Cash-For-Vote Scam
In 2008, a charge-sheet was file against Amar Singh over allegations that he conspired and set up the cash-for-votes scandal when the UPA government was facing a floor test in Parliament. Three Lok Sabha MP of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were also charged under the Prevention of Corruption of Act.
2011 Phone Tapping Controversy
In 2011, Amar Singh was accused of fixing deals with several politicians, businessmen and bureaucrats on the phone. Taped phone conversations were made public by media organisations in 2011. Singh, however, denied the allegations, saying the voice in the tapes was not his.
Fix-A-Judge CD Controversy
In 2011, Amar Singh was slapped with a a contempt notice by lawyer and activist Shanti Bhushan over a controversial CD linking him to an alleged deal to fix a judge. The controversial tape was claimed to have recorded conversation between Bhushan talking to Mulayam Singh Yadav and Amar Singh about fixing a judge for Rs 4 crore.