ACB chargesheet scripts Naidu’s call to Elvis

HYDERABAD: The cash-for-vote chargesheet filed by the Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) not only targets Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu but also describes his supposed conversation with complainant Elvis Stephenson.
In the chargesheet filed at the ACB special court on July 28, the anti-graft agency explains how at about 4 pm on May 30 Bishop Harry Sebastian called Stephenson on his mobile phone.“Mr Harry Sebastian informed him that Sri Chandrababu Naidu wants to talk with him and handed over the above mobile phone (number mentioned in the chargesheet) to Sri Chandrababu Naidu and in turn Sri Chandrababu Naidu spoke to him,” the chargesheet says.
The court is, however, yet to take cognisance of the chargesheet.
In the 25-page chargesheet, which the ACB will follow with a supplementary one soon, they quote Naidu as having said: “They briefed me, I am with you, don’t bother, for everything I am with you, and all your demands will be fulfilled.”
On May 30 TDP legislator A Revanth Reddy was caught red-handed by the ACB, along with his two aides, for allegedly paying a bribe of Rs 50 lakh to Elvis Stephenson, a nominated MLA, for supporting TDP nominee Vem Narendar Reddy in the Legislative Council elections of June 1.
In the chargesheet the ACB says how Reddy asked for Stephenson’s support in the elections and said that the go-ahead was given by Naidu himself. “Sri Chandrababu Naidu will decide personally and further requested him (Stephenson) to meet personally with Sri N Chandrababu Naidu and that meeting will be highly confidential,” the document which seeks to implicate the AP chief minister states.
The chargesheet goes on to say how Reddy offered Stephenson Rs 2.50 crore to cast his vote and insisted him to “ask a figure of amount to put the same before Sri Chandrababu Naidu.”
The ACB claimed that Stephenson in his complaint had said, “Mr Revanth Reddy offered and assured the complainant that if the deal is exposed, Mr Chandrababu Naidu would accommodate him as a nominated MLA in Andhra Pradesh or else accommodate in any Christian Minority post at the Central government.”
The chargesheet lists 39 witnesses and cites 319 documents as evidence and lists as accused only the four persons named in the FIR filed on May 31. More names, and the money trail could figure in the supplementary chargesheet, which the agency is expected to file soon, sources said.
The ACB says it named Naidu in the chargesheet after considering the detailed conversations between him and the complainant Stephenson and his statement recorded by a magistrate under Section 164 of the CrPC.
The TDP, however, has denied all charges, specially the ones slapped on Naidu, saying they were baseless and the tape was doctored.