Muniappa threatens legal action against sting operations

New Delhi, Mar 21 (UNI) Union Minister of State for Surface Transport K H Muniappa, who figures in list of ministers and MPs letting out a portions of their official residences to people on rent undermining safety of VVIPs, today termed the allegations as 'false, mischievious and motivated' and threatened to serve a legal notice against the news channel which reported it.

Talking to newspersons about the story telecast by CNN-IBN last night, the Minister said he had told the concerned correspondent after he came to know of the sting operation to make a thorough verification. "It is most unfortunate that even after talking to the people living in the place meant for servants, the channel has chosen to to ignore facts and telecast the footage to suit their convenience with an eye on increasing its TRP ratings and revenues." The freedom of the press also entails responsibility to respect facts. "When attempts are made to cast aspersions on my character I can't be a spectator", he remarked.

Asked about the possibility of his staff letting out the servant quarters on rent without his knowledge, he said the inmates were the family members working for his establishment like cooks, drivers and telephone attendants.

Earlier in the day, the issue figured in the Lok Sabha with the Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi, dubbing the sting operations as 'lucrative business venture', and stating that the Information and Broadcasting Ministry would take action against the channel which wanted to use the operation for increasing its TRP ratings.

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