BENGALURU: JD (S) MLA, Mallikarjun Khuba , who is embroiled in the cash-for-vote controversy, pleaded his innocence on Friday, claiming he would come out clean in the investigation.
The Election Commission of India(ECI) instructed Assembly secretary, S. Murthy, to file a complaint against Mr Khuba under the Representation of People’s Act Thursday night and also ordered a CBI investigation into the cash- for- vote scam exposed by a sting operation conducted by major television channels.
But responding to the ECI's move, Mr Khuba claimed he knew something was amiss from the moment the reporter walked into his house. "When the reporter wanted to talk about money, I asked him why we should discuss the issue when the parties had not finalised their candidates as yet. But he kept asking about the role of money in elections. I told him generally that MLAs took over five crore. I suspected the fellow. That is why I told my assistant to keep the CCTV on at my residence. That footage has details of the entire conversation and will give a clear picture about the conversation," he told reporters, adding that the CBI investigation would reveal the truth.
But the ECI, referring to the CCTV footage in its order issued on Thursday, said, "He demanded a certain amount of money for casting his vote in favour of the candidate of the party which gives him such money. He (Mr Khuba) said ‘if you want my vote, it will not be one or two crore. Give election money, it is settled. My offer is above 5 crore.”
