No graft in briefcases for MLAs: Assembly secretary

Legislative Assembly Secretary S Murthy on Thursday denied any irregularity in the procurement of briefcases for newly elected legislators, which Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar put on hold.

It was alleged that expensive briefcases were purchased for the new MLAs without following due procedure.

“It’s a tradition that new MLAs should be welcomed with briefcases containing official documents. That is why the briefcases were brought. But no payment has been done. We haven’t purchased any briefcase. There are no irregularities as being alleged,” Murthy told reporters.

The briefcases that were procured were to be given to the MLAs in the budget session that concluded last week, Murthy said. “But there was paucity of time. We wanted to give the briefcases after the session, which the Speaker did not allow. Accordingly, the briefcases have been returned,” he said.