KARNATAKA BJP SEEKS JUDICIAL PROBE INTO AUDIO TAPE

BENGALURU: The BJP’S Karnataka unit on Tuesday sought a judicial inquiry into the audio tape in which state Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar’s name figured in an alleged conversation between party leader BS Yeddyurappa and JD(S) legislator Naganagouda Kandakur’s son Sharanagouda.

“The Speaker should order a House committee probe or judicial inquiry into the audio tape as we do not trust the (state) government to hold a fair probe by its police monitored SIT,” Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA JC Madhuswamy said in the Ass e mbl y a mi d a r u c k u s between the ruling and opposition members.

Echoing Madhuswamy, another Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Suresh Kumar said his party feared a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe would lead to a witch hunt against its members.

“Hence, we urge a judicial probe into the audio tape,” Kumar told the Speaker.

On the Speaker’s directive, chief minister HD Kumaraswamy on Monday ordered the SIT probe into the audio tape he released on February 8 to expose Yeddyurappa’s alleged attempt to lure Kandakur to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The Speaker has asked for the inquiry report in the next 15 days. Rejecti ng t he BJP’S demand, Kumar said an SIT probe was desirable as a judicial inquiry would be delayed.

Kumar adjourned the House proceedings when the ruling and opposition members levelled charges and counter-charges during the debate on the issue.