New Video In Note For Votes Case Puts Chandrababu In The Dock

The note for vote case which shook the country, has taken a new turn. The English daily Deccan Chronicle, in its report on Wednesday, stated that key evidence had now been obtained in the case. This revelation has created fresh ripples in the Telugu States. At the centre of the fresh twist in the case, is a video which surfaced from a Tarnaka resident Malcom Taylor during the course of the investigation.

The 11-minute video features TDP leader Sebastian carrying out negotiations with TRS nominated MLA Stephenson, luring him with Rs 5 crore to vote for the TDP Candidate in the 2015 MLC election. The video further reveals that the then TDP MLA Revanth Reddy  (Current Working president of TPCC) would hand over an advance amount of Rs 50 Lakhs to Stephenson to confirm the deal. Further, Sebastian is seen telling the TRS MLA that though the initial amount okayed by AP Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu was Rs 3.3 crores at Sebastian’s behest, the TDP supremo had agreed to Rs 5 crores. Sebastian is further seen assuring Stephenson on the delivery of the balance amount.

The enforcement directorate has been probing the role of A1 Revanth Reddy, A2 Sebastian, Uday Simha and Vem Narendar Reddy in this sensational case. The audio tape containing Chandrababu's reported conversation with Stephenson was sent to the prestigious forensic lab in Chandigarh, which confirmed that to be the voice of the Chief Minister of AP. However, so far there has been little progress in the case over the past four years. The new video brings the entire case back into the spotlight once again.

The new clip attributes the deal to one Babu, claiming that he arranged the money to be handed over to Elvis Stephenson through mediators. The TRS MLA had to vote for TDP as a quid pro quo. Clearly, the video was captured on a phone camera apart from spy cameras set up by the ACB.

Interestingly, the video is four years old but has hit the headlines now with Chandrababu Naidu being the news for all the wrong reasons.

Here are Excerpts from the conversation as reported by Deccan Chronicle...

Revanth Reddy: “If anything happens to you (Elvis), here (in Telangana), you be nominated as MLA in AP and I (Revanth Reddy) am for you for other things. This is my personal responsibility given by my ‘Boss’. I am staking my head for this deal.”

Elvis Stephenson: “I am staking my entire life.”

Revanth Reddy: “By night I will send you the entire money through Sebastian.”

A man in the background is seen carrying a black bag from which the cash is removed and placed on the table.

Interestingly, the clip shows Sebastian staying back even after Revanth's exit. He is later shown negotiating with Stephenson for a percentage as commission, for connecting Elvis with the person named Babu.

Sebastian to Stephenson: “Mediators are also there. Actually, Babu said he will give only Rs 3-3.Rs 5 crore, but I insisted. I sincerely requested and took up the responsibility (of increasing the money). I have taken the responsibility. Babu is trusting me, but you (Elvis) are trusting Revanth Reddy, thus he was brought into the picture.”

Even though it is not clear which Babu they are referring to, it appear both Elvis and Sebastian know who they are dealing with. The video concludes at the scene where Revanth was picked up by ACB.

Also Watch: Jerusalem Mathaiah To Reveal All About Note For Vote