In a new twist to “cash for vote” row that fumbled the Andhra Pradesh Government and flummoxed its Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu for his alleged voice in the audio tapes, Chief Electoral Officer Bhanwar Lal today stated said it is a criminal and corruption case. When scribes met him at Secretariat here on Thursday evening, Bhanwar Lal said that either ACB or police can file a case against this criminal and corruption row. The Election Commission will take necessary action on it only after the court delivers its verdict, the he stated. We have filed a memo in the court for a copy of audio and video tapes submitted by Forensic Science Lab he said adding that cash row details were sent to ECI in Delhi. The ACB sleuths also urged the court a copy of audio and video tapes. After the examination, the ACB court is expected to take a call on Friday whether it can give a copy each to EC and ACB officials.
It may be noted that the Election Commission had in recent times directed the ACB to investigate the cash episode to its logical end. Consequently, the ACB officials obtained the reports from Forensic Science Lab and submitted the same to the court. Interestingly, the report reportedly confirmed the voce of Naidu and denied stitching of the audio tapes. However the court, reportedly said that it has got only one copy of the report and may take a decision if gets another from FSL. (NSS)
