HUBBALLI: Will Chief Minister Siddaramaiah go soft rather than axe primary and secondary education minister Tanveer Sait, who was caught on camera flipping through sleazy videos on his mobile phone during a public function in Raichur, on Thursday?
Mr Siddaramaiah, who initially maintained that he would take a call after securing an explanation from the minister, told the media on Saturday that he would institute an inquiry based on Mr Sait’s account. “I have already spoken to the minister over the telephone, and he claimed that he was just looking for some messages. But, I d not favour action against any person, who is not guilty, no matter which political party he belongs to. I will get a report from him first and then order an inquiry, on it,” he added.
He, however, clarified that he was not speaking in defence of Mr Sait but only wanted to ascertain whether the minister had erred or not. How could the state government take action against a person if he were not guilty, he asked. The CM’s latest stand has sparked speculation that Mr Sait get a clean chit just like how three former BJP ministers were exonerated by a probe panel constituted by the party in 2012. Meanwhile, rural development minister, H K Patil, who accompanied Mr Siddaramaiah during his tour of drought-hit villages in Gadag district, claimed that Mr Sait was a gentleman and not the type to watch porn during official programmes. He, however, lost his cool, and pushed and jostled media persons who tried to reach to Mr Siddaramaiah for clarifications on several issues including porngate. The tussle between the minister and mediapersons resulted in damage to some cameras, forcing the latter to boycott the programme of the CM in Gadag on Saturday.
Tanveer files complaint against news channel
Two days after he was caught on camera flipping through sleazy videos on his mobile phone, primary and secondary education minister Tanveer Sait filed a police complaint against the district correspondent and cameraman of a private television channel who zoomed in on his phone during a public function.
In a complaint filed at Raichur (West) police station, Mr Sait has charged the district correspondent of the television channel, Siddu Biradar, and cameraman (name not mentioned in the complaint) with insulting him and tarnishing his image. “Though I did not watch porn pictures on my mobile during the celebration of Tipu Jayanthi function on Noveber 10, the TV 9 district correspondent and its cameraman telecast on their channel the news alleging that I had watched porn pictures. By doing this, they have insulted me, and tarnished my image. Hence, I seek action against them as per law”, Mr Sait stated in his complaint.
Following his complaint, a case under section 504 of IPC (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) has been registered by officers of Raichur (West) police station.
