FORMER Scorpions boss Bulelani Ngcuka and his successor Vusi Pikoli have denied that they had plotted against Jackie Selebi.

Selebi yesterday alleged in the Johannesburg high court that Ngcuka and Pikoli had conspired with criminals to cook up evidence against him. He said it was because he knew about their involvement in corrupt activities. He also implicated Pikoli's wife, Girly Majola-Pikoli, in underhand deals.

But Ngcuka yesterday accused Selebi of trying to "create a sideshow".

"I reject all these allegations with contempt. I never attempted to extort or receive bribes from Rautenbach's team or anyone else for that matter. Not then and not now. It is an outright lie," Ngcuka said.

Ngcuka said he had never even met Rautenbach.

"Secondly, when I joined business my partners and I took a principled decision not to be involved in any mining activity ... to avoid any perceived conflict of interest because my wife, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, was minister of minerals and energy at the time.

"Thirdly, it is baffling why Selebi, the most senior policeman at the time, did not charge me after his alleged discovery."

Majola-Pikoli refused to comment yesterday.

Her attorney, Aslam Moosajee, later issued a statement saying that Majola-Pikoli "had no business dealings with Kebble".

Moosajee said Majola-Pikoli owned two percent of the shares in Vulisango, but she bought them after Vulisango director Baba Njenje had invited her to take up the shareholding.