Cash-for-vote scam: Trouble for Chandrasekhar Rao? TDP files multiple FIRs against Telangana CM

Hyderabad, June 8: A new turn came in cash-for-vote scam came on Monday when TDP MLAs filed multiple FIRs against Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao. They filed FIRs against him for trying to defame Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu.

As per a TOI report, they also for filed the complaint for allegedly tapping phones of party MLAs.

"If the TRS has one point to accuse Naidu, then we have many to complain against KCR. Based on the statement of Telangana home minister N Narasimha Reddy, it is evident that the Telangana government has tapped the phones of our CM and other MLAs," AP irrigation minister Devineni Umamaheswar Rao was quoted as saying in the TOI report.

The FIRs were registered at various police stations in Krishna, Guntur, Visakhapatnam and West Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh.

The complainants included Irrigation Minister Umamaheswar Rao and some legislators. They claimed that the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government fabricated the audio tape aired by some TV channels to implicate Naidu in a false case.

The development came a day after an audio tape of a purported telephonic conversation between Chandrababu Naidu and nominated Telangana legislator Elvis Stephenson was aired on some TV channels giving a new twist to the cash-for-votes controversy.

Parakala Prabhakar Advisor (Communications) to the Andhra government strongly denied reports saying that the tapes were fabricated and the AP government will take up the issue seriously.

The reported conversation suggested that the Andhra CM was giving "assurance of all sorts" to the MLA if he votes for TDP nominee in the Telangana Legislative Council election.

Prabhakar further alleged that the Telangana Government is trying to malign the image of the AP chief minister by resorting to cheap tactics.

"It is not the chief minister's conversation. How come they are available outside. Telangana Government has to give answer to this. Telangana CM and Home minister should give answers," Parakala said.

He said that the Telangana CM is trying to mislead the people of Andhra Pradesh by resorting to "cheap tricks".

The anti-corruption bureau of Telangana is in the process of questioning TDP MLA Revanth Reddy and two others who have been arrested in cash-for-vote case.

On May 31, the ACB arrested Reddy for allegedly trying to bribe the nominated MLA Elvis Stephenson to vote for TDP nominee in the Telangana Legislative Council election.

Based on a complaint by Stephenson, ACB officials held Revanth, Sebastian Harry and Uday Simha after they were caught while allegedly handing over Rs 50 lakh to Stephenson.

Earlier, Telangana Home Minister alleged that Naidu is the key person in the issue.

OneIndia News

(With inputs from agencies)