Hyderabad: The topic of discussion in the AP Secretariat is the ongoing ‘cash for vote’ scam. Some IAS officers said the ‘sting’ operation and ‘phone tapping’ would not stand legal scrutiny. They feel that it would only taint the image of AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and damage the TD politically.
Others said the sting ops and tapping are valid under the law. A senior official said in ACB trap cases, the main evidence is fingerprints on currency notes — a pre requisite for being caught ‘red-handed’.
But in the cash for vote video, TD MLA Revanth Reddy did not give the money directly to nominated MLA Elvis Stephenson. The official said the TS government cannot prove that Mr Revanth Reddy had bribed the MLA.
Another IAS officer said that the TD could say in court that they have 20 MLAs, and it will be proved through the voters list.
According to Assembly records Minister Talasani Srinivasa Yadav and TD MLAs who joined TRS are listed among TD MLAs as their resignations have not been accepted.
The TD will ask that when it has the numbers to win one MLC seat — the required strength is 17 — why should they bribe other MLAs. The TD will also question how the TRS with 63 MLAs on the list could field five candidates.
The main question is who recorded the conversation between Mr Naidu and Mr Stephenson and who leaked the tapes. A senior IAS officer said in this issue TRS has acted cleverly.
Taped conversation between Chandrababu Naidu and MLA Elvis Stephenson
