The three ‘tainted’ former ministers on Monday sought one more week’s time to file their reply to the showcause notices served by Speaker K.G. Bopaiah seeking their explanation on the incident in which they allegedly watched porn clippings in the Legislative Assembly.

The three – Laxman Savadi, C.C. Patil and J. Krishna Palemar – have sent a letter to the Legislative Assembly Secretariat in this regard. Last week, they were directed by Speaker K.G. Bopaiah to file their reply to the notices by Monday. Assembly Secretary P. Omprakasha confirmed the receipt of the letters from the three former ministers. Earlier, Mr Bopaiah had said that once he receives the replies from the MLAs, a seven member House panel, comprising four members from the BJP, two from the Congress and one from JD(S) would be formed to conduct an inquiry into the issue. This panel would be asked to submit a report to him by March 12 which would be placed before the Assembly.

When contacted, Mr Bopaiah, who was in his home constituency in Kodagu district, told Deccan Chronicle, "I am busy with programmes in my constituency and have no idea about the letter. I feel there is some confusion. I had distributed copies of my order last week to make my position clear on the subject. The show cause notice is very clear—They should submit their reply on or before February 13. My immediate priority is to constitute a House committee the moment I reach Bengaluru on Tuesday."

However, sources in the Assembly secretariat said that the trio may be granted a week’s time to submit their replies once the Speaker returns to the city. The Opposition Congress and JD (S) have argued that there was no need for a House panel as the three former ministers have already admitted to seeing the film. Deputy leader of the Opposition T.B. Jayachandra told Deccan Chronicle that the three should not be given any more time to file their reply. “Instead, they should be disqualified at once,” he said.