Porngate: house panel chief says up to 10 more MLAs involved

Committee to submit report on March 20

PTI | March 15, 2012



Chairman of the Legislature Committee probing the porngate episode involving three ruling BJP MLAs in Karnataka on Thursday said eight to 10 other legislators had also watched sleazy clips in the Assembly.

Shrishailappa Bidarur, however, indicated these MLAs would not be summoned as it's not part of the terms of reference of the panel.

His comments confirm the claim by committee member Nehru Olekar who created a flutter earlier this month saying 8-10 more MLAs, including those from opposition parties, had also watched the pornclips.

Bidarur told reporters that the committee would submit its report to Assembly Speaker K G Bopaiah by March 20.

Lakshman Savadi, C C Patil and J Krishna Palemar resigned as Ministers on February 7 a day after they were caught on camera watching porn clipping in the Assembly with regional TV channels telecasting their act which evoked public outrage.

"That may be eight to ten", Bidarur said when asked how many more MLAs had watched the adult content in the assembly...while viewing the CCTV (footage)...it (eight to ten watching porn) came to the notice but yet the committee has not decided anything on that", he said.

"If necessary", Bidarur said when asked if these eight to 10 MLAs would also be issued notice for deposition but later indicated it was unlikely, pointing out that the panel's terms of reference concerned "about only these three people".

The panel called two top officials of the Law Department for consultations with regard to legal aspects of the case and "what can be recommended", he said.

Bopaiah had constituted a seven-member House panel, comprising four members from BJP, two from the Congress and one from JDS to probe the episode, but the opposition had boycotted the committee alleging the move is an exercise to cover up the scandal.

The have maintained that there was no need for probe as the three MLAs have admitted to their actions.

Comments

 

Other News

Who checks the books?

I read about the news about the Coimbatore library over coffee this morning. On the face of it, the headline was about a political ‘war’ between the DMK and TVK. But what stayed with me was something much more important than the blame game behind what had transpired. A writer walking through

Development paradox: Falling poverty miracle and an inequality problem

India’s reduction in poverty over the past decade is a development achievement of considerable significance. The World Bank’s April 2026 ‘India Development Update’ estimates that the share of Indians living below the international extreme-poverty line of $3.00 per person per day i

In Arunachal, a river we call mother

In Arunachal Pradesh, the Siang is not just a river. For many of us, especially the Adi people, it is part of our family. Our grandparents fished in it. Children learned to swim in it. Our farms drink from it. When someone says a huge dam will be built on it, we do not hear the word "project".

A new retelling of the Mahabharata delves into key moments

In a time when every decision carries consequences and questions of ambition, power, loyalty, identity and moral choice continue to shape our lives, Dr. Arun Krishnan’s new book, ‘Mahakshana’ (Penguin India) offers a strikingly relevant retelling of the Mahabharata.  

Cabinet approves viability gap funding to develop grid-scale energy storage systems

The Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Narendra Modi, has approved the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) Scheme for Development of Grid-Scale Energy Storage Systems, with a total financial support of Rs.14,500 crore for the period FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31. The scheme aims to support the development o

Cabinet creates a pathway to absorb Agniveers in Defence Forces

An objective assessment in terms of organisational requirements and operational efficiency has brought out the outstanding performance of Agniveers in terms of skills, motivation levels, physical fitness and technological prowess. As envisaged earlier, based on merit, 25% of Agniveers will be offered reg

Upcoming Conferences



-->

Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter