SC rejects Cong plea to consider BSY video in disqualification hearing

The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to consider the contents of the videotape of Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa allegedly admitting that the BJP had poached the 17 Karnataka MLAs. Hearing the Karnataka Congress’ petition to consider the tape in the disqualification hearing, the SC said that they have taken note of the tape but cannot take it on record. 

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

Arguing that the tape is the proof that the BJP was orchestrating the rebellion of Congress and JDS legislators and that their mass resignations were not self-motivated and spontaneous, Sibal had pleaded with the Supreme Court to admit the tape on record. He had also submitted, for the court’s perusal, documents, newspaper clippings and also recordings from news channels that had broadcasted the tape.

READ | Siddaramaiah refutes Yediyurappa's allegation of twisting statement

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

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

READ | Siddaramaiah & CM Yediyurappa spar over alleged Operation Kamala tape

BJP Defends the tape

Meanwhile, the BJP has defended the tape and stated that the Chief Minister was only speaking facts in the internal party meeting, that the BJP government could not have been formed without the 17 legislators resigning. Meanwhile, an internal inquiry has been ordered by Yediyurappa to ascertain who recorded and leaked the internal conversation. 

As a fallout of the leak, the CM has instructed security personnel at his residence in Bengaluru that no visitor should be allowed to carry mobile phones, laptops and other recording devices inside the premises. He has also asked for arrangements that should be made to collect the gadgets before allowing anyone except a handful of people cleared by the CM.

READ | Congress releases tape alleging Yediyurappa’s confession on Op Kamala

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READ | Karnataka minister: Rebel MLAs, the reason behind BJP govt formation