New Delhi, Aug 22 (IANS) Sohail Hindustani, the alleged mastermind of the 2008 cash-for-vote scandal that rocked the Lok Sabha, appeared in a special court here Wednesday, which had issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against him at the last hearing.

Special Judge Sangita Dhingra Sehgal asked police to take Hindustani into custody after he appeared in court. Hindustani apologised for not appearing earlier as he was in Bangalore.

The court released Hindustani and cancelled the NBW against him, which was issued at the last hearing Aug 14 after both Hindustani and his counsel failed to appear in court.

While Hindustani could not appear Aug 14, his counsel did. Counsel told the court that his presence was not marked in court.

The court will hear the case again on Sep 14.

On July 22, 2008, some BJP MPs had waved wads of currency notes on the floor of the Lok Sabha during a trust vote faced by the UPA-I government, claiming they were given the money to vote in favour of the government.

Former Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh, Sudheendra Kulkarni, MP Ashok Argal, two former BJP MPs Faggan Singh Kulaste and Mahabir Singh Bhagora, along with Amar Singh's former aide Sanjeev Saxena and Hindustani have been named as accused in the case.