Hyderabad: While the Enforcement Directorate, Income-Tax and the Anti Corruption Bureau are yet to trace the source of the Rs 50 lakh that was allegedly offered as a bribe to Anglo Indian.
MLA Elvis Stephenson to vote in favour of the Telugu Desam in the 2015 MLCelection , Deccan Chronicle has independently accessed an 11-minute video clip that could be crucial in exposing the person who hatched the cash-for-vote deal.
The 11-minute clip reveals that one ‘Babu’ arranged the money that was to be paid to Elvis Stephenson through intermediaries if he voted in TD’s favour.
It was shot on a phone camera in parallel to the spy cameras installed by the ACB during the deal.
Though the video was recorded in 2015, it came to light four years later as the case has been put on the fast track. It could be a significant breakthrough in the case as all accused in the ‘cash-for-vote’ scam, including Congress working president Revanth Reddy and his close aid Uday Simha, have denied ownership of the money.
The video reveals the source.
It begins with Mr Revanth Reddy meeting Elvis Stephenson at key witness Malcom Taylor house in Tarnaka, to confirm the deal and hand over the cash.
The conversation goes like: Revanth Reddy: “If anything happens to you (Elvis), here (in Telangana), you be nominated as MLA in AP and I (Revanth Reddy) am for you for other things. This is my personal responsibility given by my ‘Boss’. I am staking my head for this deal.”
Elvis Stephenson: “I am staking my entire life.”
Revanth Reddy: “By night I will send you the entire money through Sebastian.”
In the background a man is seen carrying a black bag out of which the cash is removed and placed on the centre table.
What is significant about this clip is that after Revanth Reddy leaves, Sebastian stays back and begins negotiations with Stephenson for a percentage as commission, as he played a role in connecting Elvis with the person named Babu.
Sebastian tells Stephenson: “Mediators are also there. Actually, Babu said he will give only Rs 3-3.Rs 5 crore, but I insisted. I sincerely requested and took up the responsibility (of increasing the money). I have taken the responsibility. Babu is trusting me, but you (Elvis) are trusting Revanth Reddy, thus he was brought into the picture.”
Though it is not clear that which 'Babu' (both were referring to) but it appears as if Elvis and Sebastian were very well aware of who he was.
The clip ends with ACB sleuths arresting Revanth Reddy.
