A beleaguered BJP in Gujarat today heaved a sigh of relief after the Forensic Science Laboratory gave a clean chit to its two MLAs accused of watching porn on a tablet device in the State Assembly.
However, the controversy over the issue refused to die down with an unrelenting Congress disrupting the proceedings of the House to seek their dismissal, prompting the Speaker to order the suspension of the Congress MLAs for the third successive day.
The FSL, which examined the iPad on which Mr Shankar Chaudhary and Mr Jetha Bharwad had allegedly watched obscene material, today submitted its report in a sealed cover to the Speaker, Mr Ganpat Vasava, who read out the conclusions in the House.
In its report, the FSL concluded that there were no obscene videos or pictures on the iPAD belonging to Mr Chaudhary.
Maintaining that the allegation against Mr Chaudhary and Mr Bharwad had turned out to be false, Mr Vasava said the FSL report will be handed over to the Privileges Committee of the House, which is investigating the issue.
According the to FSL report, the iPad contained communications by the MLA, reports, over 4,000 pictures and 11 video clips, but none of those was obscene.
The MLAs had come under scanner for allegedly watching sleazy pictures during House proceedings after Mr Janak Dave, a senior journalist with a local newspaper, complained about the incident on March 20.
The Speaker while ordering a probe by the Privileges Committee had got the iPad impounded and sent to FSL for analysis.
Reacting to the development, Mr Chaudhary termed it as a victory of truth. “Satyameva Jayate (Truth always triumphs),” he told reporters.
‘Defamation'
Striking a combative note, Mr Chaudhary threatened to drag those behind the “conspiracy” to court for defamation. “Those who have conspired to defame me and tarnish my image will have to give answers before the court of law. I am going to file defamation suit against the conspirators,” he said.
Earlier, before the FSL report was submitted to the Speaker, Congress MLAs were suspended for the day, third time in as many days, for disrupting the proceedings over their demand for dismissal of the two BJP MLAs. The House had to be adjourned twice earlier amid noisy scenes before the Congress MLAs were suspended.