SC rejects Cong plea to consider BSY video in disqualification hearing

Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to consider contents of videotape of Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa allegedly mitting that BJP h poached 17 Karnataka MLAs. Hearing Karnataka Congress’ petition to consider tape in disqualification hearing, SC said that y have taken te of tape but cant take it on record. 

Senior vocate Kapil Sibal, arguing on behalf of Congress, h petitioned that explosive contents of tape should be taken into consideration as SC was hearing petition challenging disqualification of 17 MLAs by former Karnataka speaker Ramesh Kumar. SC h asked about relevance of tape in case, before reserving its decision for Tuesday. 

Arguing that tape is proof that BJP was orchestrating rebellion of Congress and JDS legislators and that ir mass resignations were t self-motivated and spontaneous, Sibal h pleed with Supreme Court to mit tape on record. He h also submitted, for court’s perusal, documents, newspaper clippings and also recordings from news channels that h brocasted tape.

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Rejecting Congress’ plea, SC stated that judgment in case was alrey prepared and mitting tape at this juncture will result in a delay in delivery of verdict. 

Congress party has been alleging that tape proves of BJP high command having mand rebellion in order to bring down coalition government in state. A delegation of Congress met Karnataka goverr Vajubhai Vala on vember 2 to seek his intervention and also demanded Chief Minister Yediyurappa's resignation.

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BJP Defends tape

Meanwhile, BJP has defended tape and stated that Chief Minister was only speaking facts in internal party meeting, that BJP government could t have been formed without 17 legislators resigning. Meanwhile, an internal inquiry has been ordered by Yediyurappa to ascertain who recorded and leaked internal conversation. 

As a fallout of leak, CM has instructed security personnel at his residence in Bengaluru that visitor should be allowed to carry mobile phones, laptops and or recording devices inside premises. He has also asked for arrangements that should be me to collect ggets before allowing anyone except a handful of people cleared by CM.

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