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An eye for an eye, a tape for a tape
Raipur, Dec 06: Just when you thought you were getting bored of the Judeo tape episode, the Bharatiya Janata Party has decided to take care of your entertainment. Late on Saturday night, Arun Jaitley produced an audio tape in which Ajit Jogi is allegedly heard offering bribe to newly-elected BJP MLAs to defect and form a breakaway group. Jogi suspended
Union Law Minister Arun Jaitley today alleged that the outgoing Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi today offered bribe to newly-elected BJP MLAs to defect and form a breakaway group whom the Congress would extend support in government formation.
At a late night press conference here, Jaitley, a senior BJP leader, played a tape purportedly containing the conversation between Jogi and a BJP MLA whom the money was alleged to be offered.
Demanding a CBI inquiry into the entire episode,
Jaitley played the tape and displayed currency notes to the
tune of Rs 45 lakhs having been allegedly given to BJP MLAs
Virendra Pandey and Kashyap.
Jaitley said they had "water-tight" documentary,
material and taped evidence against Jogi, his son and Congress
MP Kunte for allegedly trying to bribe BJP MLAs to effect a
split in BJP`s Legislature Party and prevent formation of a
BJP government in the state.
Jaitley said both Jogi and Kunte were public servants and
a case of corruption for defection had been clearly made out
by the available evidence.
He said the tape recording was clear and the person
trying to offer money to the MLAs was "unabashedly" offering
the bribe.
There was also a hand written letter by Jogi, he claimed.
Jaitley said they had handed over a copy of the tape to
the Governor.
Since the outgoing government was still in office till
tomorrow morning, the party would hand over the original
documents, the tape and other evidence to police for
investigation after the new dispensation takes over.
A stash of notes said to be Rs 45 lakhs offered by Jogi
to engineer the defection and form a breakaway group was
displayed at the press conference.
Jaitley said the new government will ask the CBI to
investigate the matter and the original tape of the
conversation will be handed over to the investigating agency.
The money will be handed over tomorrow to the police, he
said.
Jaitley said this was a clear case of attempt to break a
political party and prevent formation of a government.
He also demanded the arrest of Jogi and Kunte.
Jaitley alleged the entire conspiracy had been hatched at
the instance of Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
"Her own role is there and her name is being used," he
said.
"The conspirator should be arrested," Jaitley demanded.
Bureau Report