Vote-for-note scam comes to haunt Naidu

The 2015 'Vote-for-note' scam, involving Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, took a curious turn with his Telangana counterpart K Chandrasekhar Rao reviewing the progress of the case with Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) officials.

With Naidu and former TDP MLA Revanth Reddy, the key players in the alleged scam, changing political affiliations, the timing of the revival of the case raised several questions.

On May 31, 2015, Reddy, who is now with the Congress, was arrested by the Telangana ACB for trying to offer a bribe of Rs 50 lakh to TRS-nominated MLA Elvis Stephenson to vote for the TDP candidate in the Council elections.

Rao's review took stock of the forensic report that confirmed that the voice in the audio talking to Stephenson was Naidu's.

The Telangana chief minister also discussed the steps to be taken to deal with the case, which is pending in the Supreme Court.

Andhra Pradesh Agriculture Minister, Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy, talking about the issue said, "The vote-for-note case has been revived on the behest of the YSR Congress Party, which has been cozying up with the BJP in the recent times. We have nothing to fear as the Union government must also answer on the issue of phone-tapping of all Andhra leaders living in Hyderabad at that time."

The TDP feels that its stand, that the BJP will resort to witch hunt on Naidu now that the TDP has come out of the NDA, has been vindicated.

Revanth, addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, also expressed a similar point of view.

"The Andhra Pradesh chief minister has now become a target (of the TDP). This is only to intimidate him with the help of KCR," Revanth said.

Revanth quit the TDP and joined the Congress months after he was released on bail in connection with the case.

Another accused in the case, Jerusalem Mattiah, speaking to the media here on Tuesday has urged KCR to handover the investigation of the case to CBI.

"The investigation must also look into all the phones that were tapped without the permission of the Centre by the Telangana government. Stephenson was not the only MLA offered bribe," he said.

Mattaiah has petitioned the Supreme Court that he would turn an approver in the case.