As per the direction of the Election Commission of India an FIR has been filed against Janata Dal(S) legislator Mallikarjun Khuba (Basavakalyan) by Karnataka legislative Assembly Secretary S Murthy on Tuesday for his alleged involvement in ‘vote for cash’ deal which was exposed in a sting operation by a private English TV channel ahead of Rajya Sabha elections held to four seats from Karnataka. Murthy filed his FIR against the MlA at Vidhanasoudha police station.
The FIR was lodged based on the direction of the Election Commission of India (ECI) which went through the report submitted by State Chief Electoral Officer Anil Kumar Jha after the ‘sting operation’ were beamed by some TV channels.
In its order, the ECI said the whole matter should be entrusted to the CBI for a deeper probe so that all those who may be involved in such nefarious activities are exposed and duly punished under the law. Explaining why it did not countermand or defer the Rajya Sabha polls held on June 11.
In the sting operation and the transcripts of the footage showed Khuba openly demanding a certain amount of money to cast his vote in favour of the candidate of the party which gives him such money. Khuba had allegedly said to the TV reported that, ‘’if you want my vote, it will not be Rs 1 crore or Rs 2 crore. Give election money, it is settled. My offer is above Rs 5 crore. For team, it is same rate.’’
Khuba also allegedly made the claim that he could get the votes of certain other MlAs if they are also paid the price mentioned by him.
However Election Commission did not take cognizance of the media trail in the entire episode and cancel the election. The Congress with the help of JD(S) rebels and independents could win three seats and BJP got one seat in the biennial Rajya Sabha polls.
Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh, Oscar Fernandes and he third candidate KD Rammurthy got elected along with BJP’s Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman who contested for the first time from Karnataka to Rajya Sabha.
The JD(S) faced internal rebellion and suspended eight legislators for defying the whip issued by the party for cross voting.