Chhattisgarh Cong chief wants Centre-appointed team to probe

Chhattisgarh Congress chief Bhupesh Baghel today demanded a probe by a Centre-appointed team of officials into the audio tape controversy which has created a political storm in the state, contending the state's chief secretary would not be able to conduct a fair inquiry.
"Chief Secretary is a part of the state government and hence it would be difficult for him to conduct a fair probe into the matter. Besides, he is not a technical expert and the examination of tape demands some technical officers.
"Officials from the Centre or other states should be appointed for a fair probe into it," he demanded.

The Election Commission had yesterday asked the Chief Secretary of Chhattisgarh to "urgently" institute a "suitable enquiry" into the surfacing of an audio tape which suggested financial inducement behind the Congress candidate withdrawing from fray in an assembly by-poll last year.
A political storm has erupted in the state after an audio tape containing telephonic talks purportedly between Chief Minister Raman Singh's son-in-law Puneet Gupta, Congress leader Ajit Jogi and his son Amit surfaced, alleging their involvement in "fixing" the bypoll to Antagarh assembly seat.
Congress candidate for Antagarh (ST) seat Manturam Pawar, then considered an Ajit Jogi loyalist, had withdrawn from the fray just a day ahead of the last date for withdrawal and was later expelled from the party.

The tape purportedly contains conversations suggesting money exchanged hands.

Chief Minister Raman Singh and the Jogis have trashed the charge as "baseless".
Baghel claimed it was common knowledge that Ajit Jogi, a former chief minister of the state, played a role in the withdrawal of Pawar's candidature.
"Ajit Jogi had expressed his displeasure over nominating Pawar as the party candidate in the Antagarh bypoll. He never wanted Pawar to contest the election. When Pawar quit everyone had suspected Jogi's role in it," Baghel said.
"Everyone (including the party) was aware of his role in it," he added.
Baghel had yesterday issued a show cause notice to Jogi's son Amit, a party MLA.

Congress's central leadership had said in Delhi yesterday that a decision on whether to act against Ajit Jogi, a member of the Congress Working Committee, could be taken only by the party high command.
Meanwhile, Amit Jogi has filed a defamation suit against the editor of a national daily and its correspondent for publishing a "baseless" story based on the audio tape.
Ajit Jogi has also served a notice to the newspaper, its chairman, editor, editor-in-chief, publisher and correspondent asking them to publish a rejoinder within three days failing which he has threatened to proceed against them under civil and criminal laws.