Karnataka: Congress MLA says audio tape released by his party to frame BJP is 'fake'

In a major embarrassment to the Congress in Karnataka, its MLA Shivaram Hebbar has termed as "fake" the audio tape released by his party alleging attempts of horse-trading by the BJP.

Hebbar, the Congress legislator from Yellapur, has denounced the "people who brought out the fake audio clip" in a Facebook post. Photo: Facebook

NEW DELHI: In a major embarrassment to the Congress in Karnataka, its MLA Shivaram Hebbar has termed as "fake" the audio tape released by his party alleging attempts of horse-trading by the BJP ahead of the floor test in the state assembly. Hebbar, the Congress legislator from Yellapur, has denounced the "people who brought out the fake audio clip". "I learnt about the audio clippings of the conversation purportedly between my wife and BJP leaders later when I was in the assembly. This is not my wife's voice and she has not received any such calls. I condemn whoever has released such audio clippings for political gains. This is a fake audio tape..." Hebbar sais questioning the authenticity of the audio clip in a Facebook post. Hebbar's post provided fodder to BJP, which accused the Congress of "brazenly lying and spreading misinformation". Amit Malviya, BJP's IT cell head, tweeted: "Facebook post of Congress MLA Shivram Hebbar from Yellapur, in which he denies his wife ever getting a call from BJP, calls it a fake audio clip... Shame on Congress for brazenly lying, spreading mis-information and media channels for lapping it up. It is all over regional paper."

Facebook post of Congress MLA Shivram Hebbar from Yellapur, in which he denies his wife ever getting a call from BJP, calls it a fake audio clip... Shame on Congress for brazenly lying, spreading mis-information and media channels for lapping it up. It is all over regional paper. pic.twitter.com/ZoIUqhgXWi

— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) May 20, 2018

The Congress had released three audio tapes in run-up to the floor test, claiming that the BJP leaders were trying to 'poach' on the party MLAs by offering 'blandishments' so that the BS Yeddyurappa government is saved. One of the audio tapes released by the party allegedly had conversation between Hebbar's wife and BJP leaders, who allegedly offered money and ministerial post to woo him to vote for the BJP. In the audio tape in question, B S Yeddyurappa's son BY Vijayendra and his close associate B J Puttuswamy are heard speaking purportedly to Hebbar's wife, offering money and ministerial position to her husband if he cross-voted in favour of the BJP during the floor test. Vijayendra and Puttuswamy are also heard allegedly offering Rs 15 crore for cross-voting but without a ministerial berth, or Rs 5 crore with a cabinet berth. Puttuswamy is also heard allegedly saying that cases against the wife and the son, who are facing a trial in a mining scam, would be cleared. (With inputs from PTI)