Disgruntled Congress leader and former Badkagaon MlA Yogender Sao has put his party legislator Devender Singh and JVM MlA from latehar Prakash Ram in the dock for allegedly accepting bribe of Rs5 crore each during the Rajya Sabha election in the State.
The leader, who has been in the eye of the storm since a CD surfaced allegedly containing proofs of the ‘horse trading’, came out in open for the first time in public with can of worms.
“Both Bittu Singh and Prakash Ram have taken money to help the BJP winning both the seats during the Rajya Sabha elections. I was also offered Rs one crore. There was definite role of the head of the State and his advisors into all this,” said Sao on Thursday when he suddenly appeared in the Assembly campus before the waiting media.
He also expressed fear for his life. “Since I have made the entire conspiracy public I might get killed as well. TPC (outlawed leftwing group) has been given supari to eliminate me and my family,” Sao alleged.
Talking about the contents in the CD, Sao said that entire material was not there and he had some additional information which would be presented before the court.
“Wordings of the Chief Minister in the meeting with me have been suppressed and thus unclear. I have more information and would present before the court in due course of time,” he said while virtually giving clean cheat to ADG Anurag Gupta in the entire controversy “who was working on someone else’s behest” and demanded for CBI probe into entire matter.
However, he got quick rebuttal from the JVM legislator who threatened to sue him in the court soon. “His relations with outlawed outfits have been quite known. Everyone knows his background very well. The allegations he has leveled against me are totally baseless. If he has any evidence, he should show me otherwise I would file a defamation case against Yogender Sao,” said Prakash Ram.
Similar reaction was from Congress MlA Devender Singh who reiterated his stated position behind his going traceless on the voting date. “Police were behind me and I was under immense pressure. There was nothing like exchange of money. He should come up with evidence else I could move to the court,” said the newly elected member from Panki.
Notably, following the surprise win of the BJP on both the seats on June 11, suspicion about foul play had started taking rounds in different circles. While Devender Singh despite rigorous attempts could not be traced for voting that day, two Opposition members were learnt to had cross voted, paving the way for the BJP.