Hyderabad: Speaking about the cash-for-vote tapes allegedly leaked to media channels, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said: “The tapes have been doctored. The Rao government is tapping the phone of the Chief Minister of another state i.e., AP. It is unfair, unethical and illegal. Is there no security for me and my people in Hyderabad which is the joint capital for 10 years for both TS and AP?" Mr Naidu asked.
The TS government is tapping the phones of 120 leaders and the AP government has proof of it. The tapes were doctored and shown on T News channel which belongs to Mr Rao's family, he said.
The “doctored tapes” were released just a day before the one-year commemoration public meeting of the TD government. “This was done to damage our confidence. Ours is a sovereign government and how can another government resort to tapping of our phones,” he asked.
Mr Naidu also demanded an investigation into the alleged phone tapping by the TRS and asserted that he did not need to buy MLAs, claiming that he had proof to validate his allegation of phone tapping by the rival TRS.
“They are repeatedly tapping our phones. They have modern equipment and this is dangerous. Where are you going in a democracy? There are no morals,” he said.
Telangana lawyers say Chandrababu Naidu waging war
Levelling serious allegations against AP CM N. Chandrababu Naidu, TS advocates filed a complaint in Saifabad police station. They said he is promoting enmity and waging war against Telangana government. They demanded cases to be booked under Sections 153A and 121A of the IPC. The sections are very serious and usually filed against terrorists.
Accused claims Elvis was broke
Jerusalem Mattaiah, the accused number 4 in the cash-for-vote scam who had been absconding, surfaced in Vijayawada and lodged a complaint against the TRS cadre and senior TS ACB officials.
Mattaiah, who came to his relative’s place in the city, allegedly received threatening calls from senior ACB officials and TRS leaders.
“I am being asked to confess that AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is behind the cash-for-vote scam and they are even threatening to kill my family members if I do not do as they say,” Mattaiah said in his complaint.
He alleged that Mr Elvis Stephenson had paid a Rs 1 crore bribe to get the nominated MLA seat. He was broke and was looking for a loan, and wanted to wanted to vote against the TRS, Mattaiah alleged.
Aide: Stephenson has big business
Malcolm Taylor, an aide of nominated MLA Elvis Stephenson, told this newspaper that the legislator is financially sound. Mr Taylor is a key witness in the cash-for-vote scam and TD MLA Revanth Reddy was trapped at his residence in Lalaguda.
He was replying to the allegations made by Jerusalem Mattaiah, the Accused No. 4,
“Elvis is financially sound. He owns a factory that makes commercial kitchen equipment. The equipment is supplied to the Tirumala kitchen. Many famous hotels, be it Paradise or Universal, use the equipment,” said Mr Taylor. He said that Mr Stephenson had no acquaintance with Mattaiah. They had met once on January 26 at a meeting and once when Mr Mattaiah had invited the MLA to inaugurate his office.
Jagan, Elvis are related, says Telugu Desam
Andhra Pradesh ministers on Wednesday launched an all out attack on Telangana CM K. Chandrasekhar Rao and YSRC chief Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. AP labour minister K. Atchannaidu said Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy and nominated MLA Elvis Stephenson are close relatives.
“Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy, his brother-in-law Anil Kumar and K. Chandrasekhar Rao conspired against AP CM Chandrababu Naidu,” said Mr Atchannaidu. “We have proof of this. We will make it public at the right time,” he said.
He, along with minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao, demanded a probe into the phone tapping episode. “If required, the AP government will get an enquiry conducted into the phone tapping and related incidents," the two ministers said.
