A delegation of the Congress, led by senior leaders Motilal Vora and Kapil Sibal, moved the Election Commission on Friday demanding that BJP leader B Sriramulu, who is contesting Saturday’s the elections in Karnataka, be disqualified.
The Congress cited a sting video, in which the Ballari MP is allegedly seen offering a bribe to the relative of a judge, as reason for its demand.
The party had released the video, dating back to 2010, allegedly showing Sriramulu and mining baron Gali Janardhana Reddy negotiating a bribe to the son-in-law of a former Chief Justice of India. The video was also aired on local TV channels in Karnataka.
“The discussions between them, as seen in the video and reported by the media, relate to the payment of money to the son-in-law to secure a favourable judgment of the Supreme Court for the Reddy brothers. Upon viewing the video, there can be no doubt as to the agenda of the meeting taking place,” the Congress’ complaint alleged.
“It goes without saying that even on a cursory viewing of this incriminating evidence, a clear-cut case for the cancellation of the candidature of Sriramulu is made out for both the seats being contested by him in the upcoming Karnataka elections,” the complaint added.
Later, speaking to reporters, Sibal said: “The Chief Electoral Officer in Karnataka banned the showing of this particular video on television channels in Karnataka. So, we said that this ban must be lifted because this is freedom of expression....”
Sibal added that the BJP in spreading hatred among the voters in Karnataka by putting up promos in a regional channel saying that the BJP is a nationalist force and the Congress, one of disintegration. “This kind of baseless hatred cannot be the basis of campaigning because that is the subject matter of illegal and corrupt practices under the Representation of Peoples Act,” he said.
The Congress also demanded in the complaint that the poll panel must take all legal actions against Sriramulu for violation of provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act.