Hyderabad: The Enforcement Directorate questioned key witness in the cash-for-vote scam, Malcolm Taylor, on the 11-minute video that surfaced after four years, purportedly exposing the ‘master planner’ of the scam.
AP intelligence officers were found at the ED office during the questioning.
During the three-hour session, ED personnel matched the video that was shot using spy cameras by the Anti-Corruption Bureau and the 11-minute clip shot through a phone camera.
The investigating officials enquired about the persons present during the negotiations between TD leader Sebastian, then TD leader A. Revanth Reddy and nominated Anglo-Indian MLA Elvis Stephenson.
A source said, “The 11-minute video clip gave an insight to the investigating officials. The number of persons who were present during negotiations was noted down. The questioning was more on the source of Rs 50 lakh that was offered as a bribe and the statement of Sebastian who was captured on video saying ‘Babu initially wanted to give Rs 3-3.5 crore, but on my recommendation, the bribe was increased to Rs 5 crore.”
The Enforcement Directorate asked about the phone call that was made to one ‘Babu’ connecting Mr Stephenson, in which the person at the other end says: “Brother, my men have briefed me, don’t worry.”
