Cash-for-vote scam: Centre says Governor has special powers to maintain law and order
New Delhi/Vijayawada: With the row over alleged telephone tapping escalating in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi has advised Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan to step in and resolve the cash-for-vote issue.
Pointing out that under Section 8 of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, the Governor has special powers to maintain law and order in Hyderabad, the AG said he should summon the police of both the states and monitor the investigation into the matter.
The Governor, who had recently called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had asked the AG’s advice on resolving the crisis. The AG, in his opinion, said “Since the two states share the capital, Hyderabad, and two different police forces have jurisdiction in the city, the Governor can monitor the probe.”
Section 8 of the Act says “for the purposes of administration of the common capital area, the Governor shall have special responsibility for the security of life, liberty and property of all those who reside in such area; The Governor’s responsibility shall extend to law and order, internal security and security of vital installations, and management and allocation of government buildings in the common capital area.”
Memo in TS ACB court on Chandrababu Naidu
A memo was filed in ACB special court on Monday seeking a probe into the involvement of AP CM N. Chandrababu Naidu, in the cash-for-vote scam. Petitioner K.M. Hasan Shareef, general secretary of the All India Minority SC and ST Association alleged that Mr Naidu was involved in the offence and trying to escape from the law by resorting to illegalities.
The AP CID filed a memo in the Vijayawada court asking for directions to telecom service providers to furnish information regarding the alleged tapping of phones of Jerusalem Mattaiah, cash-for-vote scam accused and complainant in the CID case. A top AP CID official said, “We have speeded up the investigation in the case that has been transferred from Satyanarayanapuram police station in Vijayawada to the AP CID. We have already served notices to telecom service providers. The case pertains Jerusalem Mattaiah who alleged that the TS police and the TRS were coercing him to give a statement against AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and also bribery in the nominated MLA case.”
The officer said the memo had been filed in the court so that it would be mandatory for telecom service providers to furnish information if the court directs them.
He said four phones used by Jerusalem Mattaiah, his wife, his brother Prabhudas and Bishop Harry Sebastian were from three providers including CellOne and Airtel. “We have asked whether theses phones have been intercepted and whose behest,” he said.
Andhra Pradesh notices to 12 phone firms
The Special Interrogation Team, set up by the AP government regarding the 87 cases filed against TS Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and others regarding phone tapping in the cash-for-vote case, has called all the 12 network providers to submit call data of 90 days. Service providers who are reluctant will be served further notices.
The SIT has started investigation as per a complaint made by AP irrigation minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao. As per police sources, among the 12 service providers, representatives of only Tata DoCoMo, Idea, Vodafone, Reliance and Uninor met the SIT on Monday. Call details of 120 leaders and 27 others will be collected.
“The providers who are reluctant will be served further notices,” said a police source, adding that the details obtained from the service providers will be sent for tests.
