K’taka Speaker orders probe into ‘horse-trading’ tapes

BENGALURU: The Karnataka Assembly Speaker on Monday ordered an inquiry into an audio clip, released by chief minister HD Kumaraswamy last week to expose the BJPS alleged attempts to lure a JD(S) MLA, that mentioned his name.

In the clip former Chief Minister and BJP leader B.S. Yeddyurappa allegedly mentioned Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar’s name while in conversation with Nanganagiuda Kandakur’s son, Sharanagouda, on February 7.

Playing the clip to the media here on February 8, Kumaraswamy and Sharanagouda alleged that Yeddyurappa agreed to pay an unspecified amount if Kandakur joined the BJP.

“I have asked the chief ,inister to form a Special Committee to inquire into the contents of the audio tape in which my name was mentioned,” Kumar told the members, after state minister Raj Krishna Byre Gowda raised it in the assembly. Kumar also said the Committee must submit its report in the next 15 days.

The purported audio tape in Kannada was said to have been recorded on February 7, between Yeddyurappa and Sharanagouda at a guest house at Devadurga in Raichur district, about 480 km from here.

Yeddyurappa, however, on Sunday claimed that the audio tape was fabricated and its contents doctored though it was in his voice and accused Kumaraswamy of blackmailing him.

“...The content in the audio tape is fabricated and its voice doctored,” Yeddyurappa told reporters at Hubballi.